Sophia

Sir:

Your cover of Sophia Loren [ April 6] is an apt illustration of how a modern artist can make something ugly out of something that is beautiful.

MAURICE C. WALSTED College Park, Md.

Sir: No one's neck is that long.

MRS. G. K. BARGER

Milwaukee

Sir:

TIME has outdone itself with its wonderful cover story on Sultry Sophia. But who is that girl on the cover?

K. F. SNYDER, '63

Western Reserve Cleveland

Sir:

Congratulations. TIME'S cover artist has made one of the world's most beautiful women look like a cross between a dyspeptic Siamese cat and an underfed emu.

TOM MCKNIGHT Adelaide, Australia

Sir:

Would Sophia Loren wish to be remembered 50 years from now as she is shown in Bouche's caricature?

WILLIS SHOOK

Pittsburgh >>Says Sophia: "Yes. You know why? Because it shows the soul and the character. A painting doesn't have to be a photograph. A painting is a painting because it shows what you've got inside." For more reaction from Sophia, see Show Business.--ED.

Sir: Maitre Bouche's splendid cover has the same qualities inherent in the best portraits of the 18th and 19th centuries. His skillful treatment of the shadow areas, loosely applied and transparent against the counterplay of opaque lights, is technically similar to the methods of Louis David and Gilbert Stuart.

More work of this calibre would help destroy the illogical distinction between fine art and commercial illustration.

W. M. GAUGLER Florence, Italy

Sir:

Your cover story was a humdinger. And yet it was the picture of her mother that made me flip. For my pasta, she is the true beauty in the family. Mamma mia, what a face--all rhapsody !

MARIO FRUCTUOSO

Madrid

Season's Greeting

Sir:

On behalf of Peter Rabbitt III, I wish to extend my warm thanks for the "Tale of Peter Rabbitt" [March 16].

Since the story was published, people from all over, Germany, Jamaica and Korea included, have written to me. Many want to know why I have so named my son. For the first years of my life I was distressed by having a funny name, but the amazing warmth and kindness that it has evoked has led me to really appreciate my good luck. It is heartening in this world of wars and rumors of wars, of "isms" and "anti-isms" to think that this simple story kindles so many gentle memories and friendly reactions. Easter greetings to all.

PETER J. J. RABBITT JR.

Missouri House of Representatives Jefferson City, Mo.

The Soviet Poet

Sir:

It is men of strong conviction like Soviet Poet Evtushenko [April 13] who hold the hope for an informed Russia. We Americans can learn from this article that the Russians are not so different from ourselves, and that our similar desire for the truth is a bond that no political difference can destroy.

KEITH JUROW Laurelton, N.Y.

Sir:

Having been in Moscow during the 1957 Youth Festival, I recall distinctly the impact that the friendly invasion of 15,000 foreigners made on our Soviet hosts. At the time we felt that Moscow would never be the same. I was very happy that your article on the new Soviet youth confirms our "on the spot" observation five years ago.

AVIK GILBOA Los Angeles

Sir:

I am nine and an old member of the Audubon Society. You might like to know that the bird in the background of the Evtushenko cover is a bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula).

STEVEN MAMARCHEV

Eaglebrook School Deerfield, Mass.

>>Bird Watcher Mamarchev is correct. Pyrrhula pyrrhula, called a snegir, has always been a Russian favorite. In ancient days snegiri, and other birds, were released from their cages as a sign of spring. Orthodox Russians, continuing the tradition, believe that each bird freed on Annunciation Day (April 7) atones for one sin. Tradition dies hard, and even now in the Soviet Union, birds are set free on that day.--ED.

Sir:

Can it be that cold in Russia? Are their snowdrops really blue? Ours, Galanthus nivalis, are definitely white. The flowers shown by Cover Artist Boris Chaliapin are known to us as Scilla sibirica, or Siberian squill.

DOROTHY M. RUSSELL

Plymouth, Mass.

>But the Russian name for the blue flower, podsnezhnik, is translated snowdrop.--ED.

The Cardinal's Secretary

Sir:

Having read your remarks about Cardinal Ottaviani [March 30]. I would like to comment on them. [TIME reported that Ottaviani refused to be photographed, and when told: all the other cardinals had posed, said, "That's why I am Ottaviani!"]

His Eminence was willing to be photographed. When a representative of TIME called, His Eminence was not informed. And the secretary, believing that he was not interested, refused to disturb him. Also, the cardinal never said, and he has assured me of this, what was attributed to him.

Secondly, on the basis of personal knowledge, I consider your epithet [crusty] about the cardinal discourteous and untrue. He is beyond question unbending on matters of principle--for example, Communism. But this has nothing to do with his personal characteristics. In five years of daily association, I have always found him unfailingly courteous and affable with everyone.

(THE RT. REV.) HENRY P. COSGROVE

Rome

>TIME does not consider "crusty" an epithet, knows that no photographs of the cardinal were permitted, regrets that it misattributed the quotation. It was the cardinal's secretary who said, while discussing 'he refusal of photographs: "That's why he's Ottaviani!"--ED.

Criticism of the Critic

Sir:

TIME'S taking note of the new Columbia Journalism Review [April 13] was encouraging. To keep the record straight, it should be pointed out that the Review does not attempt to deal "exclusively" with the press but wilh "journalism in all its forms," inluding radio and television news. The criticism of the Review was welcome. A critical ournal needs it as much as any other.

EDWARD W. BARRETT Dean

Graduate School of Journalism Columbia University Mew York City

Big John

Sir:

Here is a conservative's reply to the song PT 109 [April 6]: He came into office 'bout a year ago, And started spend'n money just as fast as it would go He printed lots of dollars to up the nation's debt, And while the bills were dry'n, said, "I ain't through yet." Big John.

W. A. VEECH

Princeton, NJ.

Rather Ed Than Ted

Sir:

Now that the Harvard episode is out [April 6], I'd rather be Ed than Ted.

PATRICIA SPINGELD

Torrance, Calif.

Ghostly Recall

Sir:

While discussing the March 30 Education section, my ninth grade English class was confused by the quotation taken from the ghostwritten principals' speech. Word for word, it follows "An Open Letter to American Students" by Dwight D. Eisenhower, published in the October 1948 Reader's Digest. We had just read and discussed this letter the previous day.

My students asked me to point out that they get zeros for plagiarism. How unfair! Some writers get paid for it.

(MRS.) KAREN KLING Edison Junior High School Sioux Falls, S. Dak.

> Says Ghost Speechwriter Newson of the many striking similarities between Ike's letter and his principals' speech: "I am a great admirer of Eisenhower. I was inspired by his article, and I might even have used some of his phrases--unintentionally."--ED.

The 23rd Amendment

Sir:

If the anti-poll tax amendment will become the 24th Amendment to the Constitution [April 6], what was the 23rd Amendment. I missed hearing about it.

C. D. ODELL Austin, Texas

>The 23rd Amendment, ratified in 1961, gave the District of Columbia residents the right to vote in a presidential election.--ED.

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