A White Horse for Hawkins
Sirs:
In concert with many other Americans, allow me to utter a hearty "aye" to the sentiments expressed by Lieut. Paul C Hawkins in his letter published in the July 29 issue. . . .
The laxness of our State Department and its individually indolent members has led to one Russian fait accompli after another from Berlin and Vienna to Seoul and Peiping, and the jelly-spined attitude of America's "diplomats" (sic) allows Russia to dare to plot still other grabs and double-faced deals. . . . Now, in 1946, is the time to give Stalin, Molotov & Co. to understand that this nation will tolerate no ambitions of world conquest.
Let me assure Lieut. Hawkins that I . . . . stand ready to return to active duty in order to stop dead and hurl back, by force of arms should it be necessary, the Iron Curtain that Moscow seeks to forge around the world.
EX-T/SGT. STANLEY H. FIRSTENBERG
New York City
Sirs:
. . . I am thinking of organizing a committee of ex-enlisted men to furnish the good lieutenant with any paraphernalia he may need, such as: a good lance, stainless steel armor and a white horse. . . .
Who am I to doubt that Lieut. Hawkins has carefully studied the U.N. charter, Yalta, Teheran, the history of southeastern and central Europe, sociology and economics, so that I can be certain on his word that Russia is obviously and entirely in the wrong? . . .
ELI SCHWARTZ
ex-Pfc. A.U.S.
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
The Gush & the Dribble
Sirs:
Accompanying an illustration of his new china, Russel Wright is quoted (TIME, July 29) as saying: "[I] want to do something practical for the housewife. The 18th Century is kept alive by Emily Post. I have no sympathy with the idea of keeping traditional design alive."
In reply to Mr. Wright, I would like to suggest that he himself test the "practicability" of the 18th Century cup whose fine and slightly flaring rim was skillfully designed to check the escape of any drop of liquid down its side. A thick edge--especially one curving "inward--defies every effort of human lips to hold back the gush of liquid which dribbles down the sides and even makes a ring in the saucer! . . .
EMILY POST
Edgartown, Mass.
The Conscience Is Supreme
Sirs:
May I tremulously disagree with Dr. Scott (TIME, July 22) when he states that the Roman Catholic Church emphasizes the social concept of Christianity. That may have been what I was taught in Catholic parochial grammar school, high school and college, but what I got out of it was that the individual conscience is supreme. Society will be converted to a Christian outlook when the individuals who go to make it up are so converted. . . .
As for the rest of Dr. Scott's observation, as quoted, a loud rootin' tootin' thumpin' hooray.
ROBERT H. DONNELLY
Chino, Calif.
Missouri Backup
Sirs:
Am I wrong or will the water really back up against the MVA dams on the downstream side? (Ref: TIME Map, July 29.)
RICHARD J. KULDA
Cambridge, Mass.
P: It seems unlikely, TIME'S upstream-minded Map Department to the contrary.--ED.
Every Penny for Food & Clothing
Sirs:
. . . Regret to say that I have to stop my sub . . . for every penny now has to go tor the feeding and clothing of the little boys & girls of the Island of Serifos, Cyclades group, in the Aegean Sea. . . . Publishing or this letter in your paper may bring more help from my compatriots in America, and perhaps some one may go to the trouble to send me his copy of TIME (and LIFE) after reading same.
PAUL J. LIEROS
Secretary Hellenic Community
Gwelo, Southern Rhodesia
Privy Politics
Sirs:
. . . Privies, especially in the south, are in terrible shape. It is getting so that you can tell a Southern farmer's politics by his "Chic Sale." If it leans to the left, he is probably a New Dealer; if it leans to the right, he might be a Republican (in east Tennessee only) and if it is flat on its back, he is probably a Jeffersonian Democrat.
STANLEY LEVITT
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Googol Doodle
Sirs:
In TIME (July 22) under the heading "Hungary," you compare the ordinary pengoe to the googol.
The googol looks like this: 10,000,000,000, 000,000,000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000,000,000, 000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
The number of ordinary pengoes equaling a dollar looks like this: 500,000,000,000,000, 000,000.
By not writing the googol out, you give your readers the idea that the value of the ordinary pengo approaches the size of the googol. You also say that by adding a mere 80 zeros, it would pass the googol in size. . . .
If you multiply the value of the dollar in ordinary pengoes by a mere 20,000,000,000, 000,000,000, 000, 000, 000,000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000 you arrive at the size of the googol. . . .
Yours for accurate handling of large numbers.
JOHN D. BOATRIGHT
Colorado Springs, Colo.
P:Obviously.--ED.
Idea Man
Sirs:
Herbert Morrison's idea man, Patrick Gordon-Walker [TIME, July 29], is well known to our Army as more than an economist. . . .
He spoke daily in German from Radio Luxembourg during the whole SHAEF period, and directed the special features portions of all our programs.
When the troops liberated the unspeakable Belsen concentration camp, Patrick was with them and obtained recorded interviews from brutal SS guards and from wretched inmates, at the personal risk of typhus and worse. These were broadcast from Luxembourg, BBC and New York. They are among the most moving documents of the war, a permanent record for history. . . .
This country would be fortunate to have people equally able to cope with the problem of Germany.
SAMUEL R. ROSENBAUM
Philadelphia
Greatest Killer
Sirs:
I read, with a great feeling of thanksgiving and satisfaction, about the campaign against heart disease that is being started by Drs. Helen Taussig and Francis Schwentker, of Johns Hopkins Hospital (TIME, July 22). I can fervently testify to the truth of the statement, made by Dr. Schwentker: 'A crippled heart is worse than a withered arm." [ was one of the "doomed blue babies" 28 years ago. Although in fairly good health, the everpresent cyanosis (blueness), which expert use of cosmetics will not completely conceal, closes the door to equal opportunities in employment, education and most every form of everyday living.
I sincerely hope that the American people will open their hearts and purses in overwhelming support of the forthcoming campaign against the greatest killer of all mankind, especially children. . . .
ELAINE DENMAN
Aurora, Ore.
Religious Challenge
Sirs:
. . . .Your articles on Salazar and Cardinal Hlond [TIME, July 22] are stimulating. . . . The latter challenges one to prevent injustices against Jews and Negroes in this country.
The Cardinal seems to be another Father Coughlin, fighting Communism by neglecting one of the main causes. . . . The way to fight Communism and atheism is to practice one's religion sincerely.
Communists use a "religious" fervor to put over their beliefs--deceptive though they may be. Why should not those who believe in democracy and in religion?
G. PAUL LOCKWOOD
New York City
"Old (FourSquare) Gene"
Sirs:
1 take umbrageous exception to your item in the July 29 issue intimating that in electing Eugene Talmadge as governor, Georgia people are showing preference to wearing "dirty clothes."
Rather I would say that the vote shows that Georgians are tired of their more recent sufferance of a high-hat, holier-than-thou, fuddy-duddy administration. . . .
In electing "Old Gene"--by a county unit system that, in true democratic fashion, prevents eight big city counties from disfranchising the citizens in the other 151 counties -- Georgians again have shown their appreciation for a man who . . . has demonstrated an interest in the welfare of the average citizen.
Georgia does not apologize for him and we do not have to run Georgia to suit TIME. . . .
W. G. MURRAH
Atlanta
Sirs:
. . . The statement that Talmadge bypassed the cities for the small rural communities is false and misleading. . . . It is implied that he carried only the small "backwoods" areas and that the more intelligent urban voters voted against him solid. For your information Gene Talmadge carried the six unit votes of Chatham County whose county seat is Savannah, the second largest city in Georgia. . . .
THOMAS FRIER
Editor
Douglas Enterprise Douglas, Ga.
Sirs:
. . . Voting for Talmadge this time were a majority, probably two-thirds, of the lawyers, of the bankers and of businessmen generally. In many sections of the state the property owners of all classes, the industrialists, the real-estate men, the insurance men, the substantial farmers, etc. voted almost solidly for him. . . .
Talmadge was nominated because he stood four-square on the proposition that a way must be found . . . to keep the Negroes from voting in the white primaries. Chiefly for that reason, I and thousands of good citizens voted for him. Neither Talmadge, nor these good people, nor I, have any prejudice against the Negroes; on the contrary, we have a great interest in them and a deep affection for them. [But] their voting and the demands of some of them for social equality must be opposed for the good of whites and blacks alike. .
ARTHUR G. POWELL
Atlanta
Sirs:
Thank you very much for a discerning article on the unfortunate nomination of Talmadge. . . .
Focus constantly the unpleasant light of publicity on his acts. With help we will confine him to his small stature.
ROBERT HULL INGLESBY
Savannah, Ga.
Sirs:
Your article . . . was fair and truthful.
In Governor Arnall's forceful and effective fight to bring truth and progress to Georgia, he made only one error. He credited the people with a sense of discernment so keen that they could distinguish the sincere from the champions of bigotry, prejudice and intolerance. But Thomas Carlyle's teaching that to recognize the true from the false is a gift all men cannot possess has again proved true. . . .
EUGENE MORGAN
Macon, Ga.
Sirs:
Your analysis of "Ole Gene's" victory was terrific. As a Chicago Yankee living temporarily in Georgia, I cast no vote, but I did bet my roll on the unparalleled ignorance of the rural population. . . . The outcome was never in doubt. The opposition of what Gene calls "them papers" never worried us. . . .
M. F. EMERSON
Georgia
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