The MRS. Degree

Sir:

Dale J. Bellamah feels that girls should be kept out of college because "99%" of them are only interested in getting a "MRS." degree [March 28]. Good for them; as a college student I hope to marry a girl that has an education equal to mine. A mother is the most important single influence on her children; her standards become their standards. Do we need more children that are apathetic toward education?

CHRISTOPHER DREW Bradley University Peoria, Ill.

Sir:

I could think of less difficult ways to get a MRS. degree--less difficult than 20 hours of classes a week and 18-hour days. I could think of less expensive ways--less expensive than $2,500, plus books and living expenses. I could think of less tiring, less disturbing and less profitable ways to spend my time than getting my B.A.

PATRICIA J. BURNS Sophomore Vassar College Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Sir:

Perhaps, come to think of it, colleges should give a MRS. degree. To receive this degree candidate must have the cooking skill of a chef, the first-aid knowledge of a scoutmaster, the diplomatic ability of a foreign-service officer, the patience of a saint, the knowledge of child psychology of a specialist in this field. I suppose, though, by the time a girl had completed the course she would be too old to marry.

DAVID D. MORRIS Albion, Mich.

Sir:

We need something to think about while we do the ironing.

FLOREDA VARICK, B.S., MRS. Gainesville, Fla.

Xactly

Sir:

Admiral Arleigh Burke's plan to spell Kom-munism with a "K" in the future [April 4], in order to identify it with Khrushchev, needs additional strategic planning. For "Khrushchev" is not spelled in Russian with the "K" of Kommunism, but with an "X," pronounced like the "ch" in "Loch." (In fact, Khrushchev should not be referred to as "Mr. K." but rather as "Mr. X.")

I trust that this oversight was not kaused by any junior staff officer's lack of kourage in kommunicating this to the admiral.

CHARLES F. BERLITZ Vice President Berlitz School of Languages New York City

Legions Under the Sea

Sir:

My thanks to TIME for the first widely seen, and sensible, cover story on Jacques Cousteau [March 28].

For once, we happy followers of skindiving are not depicted as a slightly mad race apart from the rest of mankind, but as we like to think of ourselves: sober and sensible types enjoying the one last bit of virgin wilderness left in this world. Fortunately, the last is most of the world.

GEORGE H. RAPPOLE Boston Sea Rovers Needham, Mass.

Sir:

I was surprised at your statement that skindiving is "almost the singlehanded creation" of Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

In 1938 I photographed the Club des Sous I'Eau in Paris. My photograph showed its president, Commandant Le Prieur, its vice president, the scientist Jean Painleve, and other members cavorting under water in diving masks, shooting off their underwater guns and wearing water lungs.

PHILIPPE HALSMAN New York City

P:I The Club des Sous I'Eau divers are using an Aqua-Lung ancestor called Scaphandre Autonone le Prieur, after its inventor and the club president, Yves le Prieur. The air-flow pressure was adjusted by hand--ED.

Sir:

I would like to know if anyone has sampled the 2,160-year-old wine found in the ancient wreck.

JONATHAN BELL Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

P:J Cousteau drank some, wrote that the wine came from "a poor vintage century."--ED.

Leprosy in Samoa

SIR:

YOUR MARCH 28 PRESENTATION OF THE LEPROSY PROBLEM IN AMERICAN SAMOA IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED. IT HAS DIRECTED ATTENTION TO THE LACK OF FUNDS AND FACILITIES IN CARING FOR THE DESERVING PEOPLE HERE, AND THE FIRST RESULT IS THE ANTICIPATED TEAM OF LEPROLOGISTS, WHICH HAS BEEN MY REQUEST FOR NEARLY A YEAR. MY PURPOSE IN GOING "OUT OF CHANNELS" WAS NOT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO PERSONALITIES BUT TO A SERIOUS SITUATION CONCERNING OUR SAMOAN "ORPHANS." I TRUST THE LOCAL MISUNDERSTANDING THAT ENSUED WILL BE SETTLED AMICABLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

DONALD L. DONOHUGH, M.D. PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA

Death & Transfiguration

Sir:

Congratulations on a brilliant piece of incorrect reporting [on Mezzo-Soprano Gloria Lane--March 28]. The few lines that I left unsung were well delivered from left wing by my fine tenor colleague Walter Fredericks, not by Miss Lane. That poor girl was so terrified she barely remembered her own lines.

As to the "death by thumb"--it's quite hilarious and quite untrue. Coroner and critics alike dubbed it "natural causes," and the till-then-unknown singer agreed with them.

Several months later, however, I brought her back to life. I approved of her as a choice for one of the supporting roles in Saint of Bleecker Street, in which I had the exquisite pleasure of knifing her every night.

DAVID S. POLERI Tarzana, Calif.

Sir:

After "unscheduled" exit of tenor in Chicago Carmen, Miss Lane did not finish opera "singing Don Jose's part as well as her own."

A member of the opera company and seated in audience when incident happened, I realized the performance was in jeopardy. Hurrying backstage, resisting efforts of assistant conductor to push me--sans costume --on stage, I sang final music (eight pages) of Don Jose from wing.

WALTER FREDERICKS Camden, NJ.

Religion & Politics

Sir:

For millions of us, a Roman Catholic in the White House would create endless quarreling and constant misinterpreting of the words and purposes of the President; he would "be damned if he did, and damned if he didn't." The glamor and clamor attached to the presidency may seem irresistible to some thoughtless Catholics; but to those who cherish our religion, the Faith could suffer an irreparable loss by a misunderstanding of the intentions of a Catholic President.

FRANK GAMACHE Detroit

Sir:

As the author of the campaign song, I'm Going To Vote For Hubert Humphrey, I protest your contention that this is a "less-than-subtle move" against any religious group in the West Virginia campaign [March 28).

This song was written months ago, and was printed on song sheets long before there was any thought of going into the West Virginia primary. For many years I have used parodies of the tune, Give Me That Old-Time Religion, for labor and political songs, and this is just one more parody. The implication that there is any sinister intent in using this tune is totally unwarranted. JOE GLAZER Secretary

National Labor for Humphrey Club Akron, Ohio

Journey Through the South

Sir:

Having lived in the South all my life--Georgia, Florida and Louisiana--I, like most true Southerners, deplore such conduct as depicted by John Griffin [March 28]. Over the years I have had a great deal of contact with Negroes in various business relations from laborers to managers and I have never seen them treated so inconsiderately or disrespectfully. The present explosive conditions existing in the" South are not normal, and the pity of it is that our friends in the rest of the country who seek understanding of the problem are denied the benefit of our views.

ROSWELL KING Tallahassee, Fla.

Sir:

As a Virginia white, I say congratulations to John Griffin. I hope that my relatives see the article.

CLYDE CARTER

Chicago

Sir:

Mr. John Griffin's self-enlightening tour through the South proves once again that you can find trouble if you look for it, and, while looking, you may see a reflection (the hate stare), as in a mirror, anywhere.

JOHN L. WEBB JR. Lake Wales, Fla.

Ways to Salvation?

Sir:

It is difficult to evaluate the lasting nature of the "decisions" made by thousands of people at the exhortations of Billy Graham [March 28]. His visit to the Christians of Israel was perfectly in order, but it should be pointed out to Dr. Graham as well as to all missionary societies that missions to the Jews are by and large doomed to failure.

The Jewish people have survived pleadings, the sword and the crematorium in their steadfast devotion to the faith of their fathers. The Jewish position has never been stated more beautifully than in Micah 4:5: "For let all the peoples walk, each one in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever."

RABBI AARON PEARL Congregation Beth-El Suburban Broomall, Pa.

The Cover

Sir:

Your March 21 cover story on Caryl Chessman was interesting and challenging to the minds of jurists and every American. Your decision to grace the cover with this man could only be made in America--freedom of the press. I must say, though, that such a decision--for Chessman to occupy the same position as men like Eisenhower, Dulles, Truman, Roosevelt, et al.--shocked me and failed to meet with my approval.

ROBERT E. HETHERINGTON Director of Public Relations Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Harrisburg, Pa.

>TIME'S covers do not necessarily honor the subjects. They are based on news and significance, and at times are given to men TIME would never honor, e.g., Al Capone, Adolph Hitler, Caryl Chessman.--ED.

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