Fairy Tale
Sirs:
"The Ghost on the Roof" (TIME, March 5) was pointless because no responsible section of U.S. opinion favors sanctions against Russia, and short of drastic sanctions we are unlikely to modify Soviet policy. . . .
It is mischievous because it fosters the myth that our diplomats are nincompoops always being overreached by wily foreigners. . . .
WILLIAM FREAN
Los Angeles
Sirs:
. . . Your article recognizes the possibility of conflict between those who think that human beings are able to work out their destinies within a free society, and those who believe that rigid subservience to power is the only solution.
... By stating honestly the most fundamental possible source of future wars, you have made a significant contribution to the cause of a lasting peace.
GERALD F. JACOBSON
Los Angeles
Sirs:
... As one who has been in this war a long time, seen action and must see much more I think your little fairy tale does the hope of mine and of all partisans of peace a grievous disservice. . . . The flower of world collaboration is a tender one indeed. And every hand in the world is not too many to nurture it. ...
In the language of the classics, please don't louse up our chances for peace. . . .
R. G. WEBBER Lieutenant, U.S.N.R.
Ft. Pierce, Fla.
Sirs:
. . . You have said in substance that there is a basic argument now going on between communism and democracy . . . with such likelihood of disastrous outcome that the Muse of History must withdraw from the stage and leave the matter to the contemplation of Muse of Tragedy.
Nonsense! . . . The Russians and the Americans are working together, and intend to work together. It is nothing less than reckless sabotage to suggest that the Russians are not honest on their side, and that the attempt is doomed to failure. . . .
ARTHUR E. WHITTEMORE Hingham, Mass.
P: TIME neither said nor thinks that Soviet-U.S. collaboration is "doomed to failure." But capitalistic, democratic TIME expects and welcomes the prospect of competition between Communist Russia and Capitalist U.S. TIME believes, with the late, great Wendell Willkie:
"Russia is neither going to eat us nor seduce us. ... No one could be more opposed to the Communist doctrine than I am, for I am completely opposed to any system that leads to absolutism. But I have never understood why it should be assumed that in any possible contact between communism and democracy, democracy should go down."--ED.
Petrillo v. the Children
Sirs:
It is time for all parents to rise in disgust when "Czar" Petrillo goes so far as to ban high-school students from playing over the air (TIME, Feb. 19). I am writing to my Congressman. . . . Petrillo may defy the President, but he cannot defy the parents of the nation if they are sufficiently roused!
ALICE J. SCRIBNER San Diego
Sirs:
... I for one will support any bill curtailing Mr. Petrillo's authority because he has exceeded all bounds of decency, democracy, and fair play. . . .
MRS. EARL C. HALD
Berkeley, Calif.
Sirs:
... I have a niece 14 years old who lives in Flint, Mich. Her name is Joyce and she studies piano. For seven years she has practiced three to four hours a day with Interlochen Summer Camp as a guiding influence. This summer she may realize her goal. . . . I have belonged to a union, paid dues and held office. However, I fail to find justification in this most recent attack of Czar Petrillo. . . . My niece has earned and saved most of her tuition fee. Must it go to a union? . . . Why not leave the children alone and fight real issues?
(PFC.) JOHN W. LAMESFIELD
% Postmaster
Miami
Coleridge on Cologne Sirs: Confidential: re Cologne Scribbling impromptu verse was a lifelong habit of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
After visiting the famed cathedral city of Cologne about 1828 he spat out these effusions.
Perhaps our Boys can make something of it.
An Expectoration or Splenetic Extempore, on my joyful departure from the City of Cologne In Koln, a town of monks and bones, And pavements fank'd with murderous stones, And rags, and hags, and hideous wenches, I counted two and seventy stenches, All well defined and separate stinks! Ye nymphs that reign o'er sewers and sinks, The river Rhine, it is well known, Doth wash your city of Cologne; But tell me, nymphs! what power divine Shall henceforth wash the river Rhine?
AL MANSUR
West Medford, Mass.
Loopholes Plugged
Sirs:
. . . Your editors credit "homesick G.I.s" with cooperative authorship of what happens to be a product of my own fertile imagination [ironic list of qualifications for furloughs home--TIME, Feb. 5].
... As to the authenticity of the authorship, I can upon demand furnish at least 1,500 sworn (and swearing) witnesses, each more willing than the next to substantiate my testimony. . . . The original plan was considered too lenient. I am at present engaged in the composition of a new memorandum [and] the loopholes in the first will be plugged. From where I sit, it looks like the only way a G.I. will leave this theater to go home is if his family claims the body, after the war.
(CPL.) WILLIAM S. FRADIS
% Postmaster
San Francisco
Check
Sirs:
TIME, Feb. 19 carries a story of that new game, Check Pinochle. I am sure the men stationed here would welcome it. Could you tell us where we might obtain the rules?
HARRY A. BRANDT
Director U.S.O. Fairbanks, Alaska tl Complete rules may be had free from the Association of American Playing Card Mfgs., 420 Lexington Ave., New York City.--ED.
Flynn's Rank
Sirs:
Your Cinema editor reported Errol Flynn a major in Objective, Burma! (TIME, Feb. 26). I'm pretty sure swashbuckling Flynn was only a captain. Unless, of course, he was promoted after I saw it.
(Sox.) LEE SOLTERS Camp Stoneman, Calif.
Sirs:
. . . Everything seems to come so easy to that man.
A LIEUTENANT Dayton
P: It's a gift.--ED.
Copious Patriotism
Sirs: Thanks (?) very much for printing our letter asking two girls to volunteer to let us put their pictures on our planes (TIME, Feb. 12). . . . We are currently being assured by 300 feverish women a day, via air mail, that AMERICAN WOMANHOOD is not just sparked but burning up with violent, copious and passionate patriotism. . . .
BRYANT G. NEWTON ist Lieutenant, U.S.A.A.F.
LEONARD R. BRILEY ist Lieutenant, U.S.A.A.F.
% Postmaster
New York City
Sirs: Please do not publish any more letters from men who request letters and pictures from Girls in Uncle Sugar. It's a burden on the postman who delivers mail to the rest of us to such an extent that we aren't receiving any. . ,V TT T
DENNIS H. JOHNSON
Captain, U.S.A.A.F.
LEONARD J. KOMORNY % Postmaster Captain, U.S.A.A.F.
New York City
Hot Time in Peoria
Sirs:
I am one of the thousands of citizens of Peoria who read the article "By the River" (TIME, Feb. 26) ... with a great deal of disgust.
FRED F. STREIBICH General Supt., R. Herschel Mfg. Co. Commander in Chief, Peoria Consistory Chairman, Peoria Board of Police and
Fire Commissioners Peoria
Sirs:
... I, for one, appreciate your article and think it is very fair, and I hope it will do some small amount of good in helping get rid of these conditions you write about.
H. MURRAY CLARK
Peoria
Sirs:
This is a good moral Christian, prosperous community. . . .
JAMES W. PARKER, M.D.
Peoria
Sirs:
. . . Here's hoping our blind loyalists stop ruffling their feathers and do something about it.
M. L. CORSER
Peoria
"These Men Know God . . ."
Sirs:
". . . Four out of five [veterans] . . . know little and care less about Christianity."
These strange words (TIME, Dec. 11) are credited to the eminent Episcopalian, Dr. Bernard I. Bell.
Be he Christian, Buddhist, Jew, or sun worshipper, the veteran has learned more true religion in the foxhole than he ever did in the church. The medics, in their race with death; the man with the belly wound; the boy who is afraid; the officer who must order his men to their certain death; the field chaplain--these men know God. They live with Him far more intimately than would be possible in the house of the robe, the collection plate, and the high-sounding phrases of pretentious piety. . . .
No, Dr. Bell, we have our religion, and we will return with it. It will not be the job of the church to reteach us, but to conduct itself in such a way that we may respect it as much as we do our personal faith. . . .
Our soldiers will not disappoint you--don't let your church disappoint them! GERALD W. MACKELLAR Lieutenant
% Postmaster
San Francisco
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