Errand of Mercy Sirs:

A friend has just given me your version of the Prison Episode. I am quite surprised at your unfairness. The terms you use, and the angle you viewed, agree with a certain anonymous threat from Springfield, Mo. My friend demanded that I write you, though, for he claims that your magazine endeavors to be fair and play the game square.

"Burly" is an opprobrious term. To view my purpose as one of ''death," rather than one of mercy to the other 160 men in Cellhouse No. 3 is rank unfairness. Women and children and men too, were scared that night. Action had to be taken; and, since I had no dependants, why I volunteered. This "hero" stuff is also distasteful to me. But I don't care for your readers to have the impression of a Priest wishing death in preference to life.

I am not the Chaplain at the Pen. In fact, I was never in it before, having come to Colorado in September of this year. I am Chaplain at Holy Cross Abbey, and teach Psychology and English. I have been criticised for not going in this Cellhouse and persuading them to give up. Under the circumstances, that was quite impossible. I was also dressed for golf, and was on my way to the Club, when a young lady told me her Daddy was trapped by the convicts within the Pen. "Greater love hath no man, than a readiness to lay down his life for them." That, and that alone was my purpose.

Relying on your American honesty and integrity I beg to remain,

FATHER PATRICK O'NEILL, O. S. B. Canon City, Colo.

1) Reporting fact, not passing judgment, was TIME when it told how courageous Father O'Neill carried Death (50 Ib. of dynamite) to blow a hole in Cellhouse No. 3 so that militia might enter and suppress the rioting convicts.

2) "Burly" has no opprobrious connotation for TIME. Webster's New International Dictionary defines it: "Large or stout of body." TIME has applied "burly" to such strapping-strong persons as Molla Bjurstedt Mallory, Diego Rivera, Christopher Morley, Herbert Clark Hoover.

--ED.

Remarkable Discovery

Sirs:

Smith v. Wellesley v. Vassar in Anthropology!

I know your editorial staff is very busy, but has your attention been called to the July-September 1929 number of the American Journal of Physical Anthropology? Here, in a paper of 77 pages, is set forth the physical measurements of 100 or more young ladies of Smith College. I don't suppose that so heavy a journal finds its way to your editorial table. I don't feel competent to write a paragraph for TIME, but if you will permit me I shall be very glad indeed to mail you the journal, and one of your editors might handle this interesting subject. It is intimated that later the girls of Vassar, Wellesley, etc., are to be measured. It seems the cephalic index (head) varies from 71 to 71.00 mm. Also, in Table 73 is set forth the leg lengths of these young ladies, which vary from 680 to 780 mm.

The authors--expert anthropologists--after laboriously measuring and tabulating the legs and calves of Smith girls, solemnly announce that the calves are "considerably larger than those of Jamaican women!" This is due, they claim, to athletic exercises. Remarkable scientific discovery !

Are Smith heads intellectually above Vassar? How about Bryn Mawr and Radcliffe?

Are the legs of Vassar and Wellesley ladies longer or shorter than those of Smith College students? Is physical exercise more prevalent at Vassar and Wellesley than Smith, and if so how many millimeters larger are the calves of these young ladies than their rivals at Smith?

It is rumored that over 100 men at Harvard, and 200 at Columbia, take anthropology courses and all are especially trained in making anthropometric tables. There are something over 500 institutions in this country devoted exclusively to the education of young ladies. Thus does science progress!

CALEB CABOT

Andover, Mass.

"Crafty Priest"

Sirs:

In TIME, Oct. 7, in mentioning the former Prime Minister of Austria, Monsignore Seipel, you had to use the words "crafty priest." As I know the gentleman personally, I cannot for the life of me understand on what you based your right to this insinuation. Perhaps it is due to the loose and superficial manner of many journalists when they approach anything pertaining to the old Church, utterly disregarding the ordinary obligations of man to man; it should be discarded.

MICHAEL F. GIRTEX Chicago, Ill.

TIME eschews such expressions as "crafty priest," referred instead to "that crafty cleric, bald, eagle-beaked, ex-Chancellor Ignaz Seipel."

Everyone who knows Austria knows that the statesman-Monsignore is her most astute, most potent politico, dominating the Christian Socialist (majority) party, making and unmaking cabinets. He has twice made himself Chancellor (Prime Minister).--Ed.

What Bakers Discuss

Sirs:

Your issue Oct. 7, p. 54.

"American Bakers Association discussed doughnut week, crackers in shape of States."

Error.

We did not discuss doughnut week.

State-shaped cookies used as scenery only.

We did-- 1) Recall that:--Food is not subject to consumptionism (stomach only holds three pints).

2) Reflect that:--You cannot increase the consumption of a good by lowering its price (low price=:cheap atmosphere=low esteem).

3) Realize that:--Most price pressure is brought to bear upon food (price pressure in cities = price depression on farms).

4) Recount that:--Place of bread in the diet is changing due to changing eating and buying habits.

5) Reason that:--Rules of Business Conduct are necessary to preserve stabilized conditions and to prevent lopsided prosperity within the Industry (we have four one-sentence rules).

6) Resolve that:--Correct analysis, thorough study, full consideration on all of above are necessary in preparation for a National Advertising Campaign on Bakery Products.

HENRY STUDE President

American Bakers Association Chicago, Ill.

"Don't, Bacilli"

Sirs:

Russian kisses bearing 40,000 germs apiece (TIME, Oct. 21) recall Kieth Preston's pun. Young lad), on being approached with osculation in mind, replies, "Don't, bacilli.''

HAROLD B. LONG

Bryn Mawr, Pa.

Episcopalian Key

Sirs:

A letter on p. 4 of TIME for Oct. 14 signed by Ira S. Hurt (non-Catholic) states that Francis Scott Key, who wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner," was a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Key was a devoted and lifelong member of the Episcopal Church, and a devoted and intimate friend of Bishop Meade, the great bishop of Virginia. Mr. Key was often a distinguished member of the general conventions of the Episcopal Church, and to his good literary taste is due much of the praise for the fine hymnal of the Episcopal Church. He was, I believe, chairman of the Church Hymnal Committee of the General Convention of the Church of 1823. . . .

WILLOUGHBY N. CLAYBROOK Rector Christ Church Tyler, Tex.

Meatpacker

Sirs:

Acclaim for TIME'S witticism (TIME, Oct. 14, p. 71) in report of Milwaukee Sentinel's transfer, viz: "thereby Charles Pfister, meatpacker," etc. It is true. The late Mr. Pfister did pack his 240 pounds of it around for years, though with a heavy cane and considerable difficulty. Then as to "shutting out Hearst." That gentleman is decidedly "in" with his Wisconsin News. And by the way, the late Mr. Pfister, in his lifetime, was a leather tycoon (Pfister & Vogel), banker and political boss. Again: "Harry Johnston Grant's Journal." Lucius W. Nieman, founder, has never yet indicated that anyone else than himself owns the Journal. If he were in his grave instead of prowling about the golf courses of Wisconsin and California, he might respond to such a statement by turning over as completely as has the Journal upon practically every political and public policy issue arising in Wisconsin during the 45 years of its existence. Though busily engaged in ferreting out Wisconsin accuracies for the unfailingly accurate Chicago Tribune, is it now necessary that I take on the responsibility for accuracies of TIME? In that item: score, three times at bat; three whiffs. Although two weeks will have elapsed I trust this will still be in TIME.

PUTNEY HAIGHT Wisconsin Correspondent Chicago Tribune Milwaukee, Wis.

Animal Obituaries

Sirs:

Concluding your column titled "Milestones" in TIME, May 6, you have a notice of the death of a hippopotamus. Another zoo denizen was accorded an obituary . . . few weeks ago.

It seems to me in extremely bad taste and utterly disrespectful to include the obituary of an animal with those of humans. . . .

E. C. GAINES Beacon-on-Hudson, N. Y.

TIME will continue printing famed animals' obituaries. Reasons: 1) They are news; 2) Many a person loves many an animal better than many a person.--ED.

On Breakfast Trays

Sirs:

TODAY IN NEW YORK is new, unique in journalism. It is New York City's latest morning newspaper.

We thank you for your announcement of our recent birth (TIME, Sept. 16). We think it rather unkind to credit us with only 5,000 daily circulation. It is 25,000 every morning in the rooms and on breakfast trays in 93 of New York's finest hotels.

You call us a Tabloid. By your usage Tabloid is synonymous with Gum Chewers' Gazette. That we are not. . . .

FRED L. PALMER PAUL H. RAYMER The Editors New York City.

Hey!

Hey, Mister!

You spelled "platitudes" wrong. See the very front page of TIME, Oct. 21, under picture of Harry Frank Guggenheim.

MRS. M. S. MCCALLUM Detroit, Mich.

Let Mrs. McCallum read the story and she will see that "He perused the Plattitudes" meant "He perused the Platt Amendment."--ED.

Joker

Sirs:

Reading "Miscellany" this evening upon arrival from my daily grind read "Judges" aloud to the wife and she handed me last night's News and said, "Good Night, I just read that in the News."

Some speed, or some joker, the News, which?

ARCH H. EVANS Detroit, Mich.

The Detroit News was late.--ED.

Carrie & Dave

Sirs:

In your article on p. 83 of TIME, Oct. 7 in regard to Carrie Nation, Carrie's second marriage was to Dave Nation, as he was called, of Holden, Mo., when he was also Editor of a weekly paper. Holden, Mo., is 16 miles west of "Warrensburg, Mo.," not in Kansas at all. Carrie's career made a great impression on the women. At our little town of Centreview, Mo., one day they organized a squad and wrecked a small joint that was operating in our village. Carrie would also snatch cigars out of the mouth of any one who was smoking, and "Dave" had quite a time keeping her out of trouble. H. W. ROOP

Natchitoches, La.

Cohen of Cambridge

Sirs: ... In TIME, Oct. 14, you say that Lawrence B. Cohen was arrested for handing out pamphlets expressing a Socialist welcome "to our distinguished visitor, Mr. MacDonald." This creates just the impression of unjust-martyrdom-for-a-worthy-cause which Socialist Cohen (pronounced Quinn) meant to be created.

Unfortunately the cause of Socialist Cohen's arrest was the violation of an old Cambridge ordinance which prohibits the distribution of free literature of any kind upon the streets. Had this rather bovine but no doubt well-meaning young man been distributing Salvation Army propaganda or fliers advertising the Policemen's Ball, he would have been just as liable to arrest, though whether he would have been arrested or not is another question.

May I add that Police Lieutenant Brennan, in fining Cohen $10, found nothing radical in the pamphlets; they merely stated that Socialism is probably the best cure for England now. . . .

W. N. FRANCIS Cambridge, Mass.

Youngstown & Shearer

Sirs:

On p. 14 of your issue of Sept. 30, you quote Senator Borah as saying, "The Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company showed 145% increased earnings, and I do not suppose this includes Mr. Shearer's payment."

The Congressional Record of Sept. 16, p. 3794, shows Senator Borah made no reference to Mr. Shearer in connection with The Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company.

Moreover the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company is not, and never was engaged in the shipbuilding business and has never employed Air. Shearer in any capacity whatsoever.

Unfortunately your misstatement has been widely circulated. . . .

LEROY A. MANCHESTER General Counsel Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. Youngstown, Ohio.

Reliable newsgatherers agree that Senator Borah's speech was as reported by TIME. When asked if he edited his speech for printing in The Congressional Record--an immemorial Senate custom--Senator Borah last week replied vaguely: "I can't recall saying that (about 'Shearer's payment'). It is very unlikely that I said it." TIME regrets any harm that may have come to Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. through erroneous juxtaposition of its name with Lobbyist Shearer's.--Ed.

Once

Sirs:

Readers are un-TiMEworthy when they let pass without comment Nebraska's Howell's remark)--Sept. 30--"I've been here more than six years and I've never been offered a drink more than once."

May I also be known as one to whom an invitation need not be repeated.

S. HILL SCOTT

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Whooped

Sirs:

In a more or less recent article credit was given to Walter Winchell, the enterprising young "muckraker," for the coining of the word: "Whoopee." If the admirers of W. W. will pardon me mentioning the name of Rudyard Kipling with that of their favourite, I would point out that this word, used in the same sense, will be found in Kipling's poem Loot.--"Whoopee! Tear 'im, puppy ! Loo ! loo ! Lulu ! Loot! loot! loot!" Barrack Room Ballads, I, are dated 1889-1891. . . .

HAL L. CAMPBELL

Silverton, Ore.

But to Kipling no credit for giving "Whoopee" its current connotation, namely, hilarious sport of indefinite intimacy between two individuals of opposite sex.--ED.

Rite Cathedral

Sirs:

It is with some regret that I have not found mention in your publication of the dedication of our magnificent Scottish Rite Cathedral, nor of the fact that contained therein is a set of carillon bells equally noteworthy as those of the famous Bok tower in Florida.

W. A. JOHNSON Indianapolis, Ind.