And Now the Soulnik

Man, a man could wear himself out with all that marching. Besides, every middle-aged beard and his brother are out picketing for peace these days. So, turning from soles to souls, disillusioned Vietnik Ray Robinson Jr., 29, a Negro in blue denim, hit on the great couch-in formula for ending-the war. "We've got to show the people the only way is love," he explained. "We've got to talk and listen--everywhere." Preferably sitting.

So saying, the junior guru from Washington led the last platoon of the Nov. 27 antiwar protest march into Washington's Harrington Hotel. Later they found comfort in a plush $60-a-day suite in the Statler Hilton. In such surroundings, sprawled on couches and carpet, they held the first coeducational "soul session." One young convert, recalling with distaste an abrasive cry from some demonstrators as they marched around the White House--"Hey, hey, L.B.J., how many people did you kill today?"--suggested that the soul protester should take the long-suffering view of Lyndon's problems. Said he: "We've got to let the President tell us about his pain."

So successful was the 96-hour couch-in that the Soulniks decided to hold a press conference to spread the lovin' word. They explained that the Hilton setting, if decidedly unspiritual, was essential to the cause. Said one: "You've got to go to a swank downtown hotel, right down in the nittygritty groove, man, to get the press to come out."

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