Letters: Sep. 8, 1930

Mrs. Hoover & Bottle

Sirs: You stooped pretty low in your picturing of Mrs. Hoover on the title page of TIME for Aug. 18. Your accompanying letter press expressly quotes her as saying she got a thrill when her hand touched the prow of the mighty vessel which she used the bottle of water in christening. Yet you quote her words “a real thrill” under a picture which shows her holding the basketed bottle in a setting which offers the observer no suggestion of a ship or any connection with the object for which the bottle was used. Basketing is commonly used on liquor bottles. The picture and especially your caption are manifesty intended to convey the impression that Mrs. Hoover is getting a thrill out of holding a bottle of liquor in her hand. Which puts her in a doubly embarrassing light, being the woman she is and occupying, as your own caption indicates, the position of -‘first lady” in a land where prohibition is the law and constitution, and her husband is the President. This is a piece of petty trickery, which is quite unworthy of you. The petty soul who inspired the trick should receive one of your public reprimands and perhaps some further treatment designed to purge. JOSEPH ERNEST MCAFEE

New York City

Mr. McAfee is entitled to his own suspicions and interpretations, but such ideas never entered TIME’S head.—ED. University of Whales

Sirs: Getting back to civilization from a cruise to Labrador had few compensations for us beyond the fact that we could again get a copy of TIME. The issue of July 28, however, contains a story we feel bound to challenge in the interest of truth, science and ordinary justice. It concerns the account of Capt. Pugnet’s little shark-shooting trip of recent date. . . . Let it be known, at any rate, that we have been sailing for six weeks in far northern waters, a group of 17 Americans of college age and up, and that we have several times been reduced to eating whales to stave off ardenter trenchermen and the situation on July 4 at 3.30 would have been terrible—the caviar and truffles were all gone—had it not been for our .22 calibre rifles and a happily passing, enormous school (some might call it a university) of sportive whales. ‘Twas off Cape Race, Newfoundland, and it is a pleasure to report that we shot and killed, with 17 deadly shots from as many blue-barreled .22 calibre guns, 17 whales, the smallest of which could easily outweigh the entire batch of Capt. Pugnet’s sharks. Our cabin boy would have made it 18 but his trusty rubber slingshot broke as he fired and his whale, admittedly the biggest of the lot, got away, though sadly wounded. When last seen this surviving leviathan, whimpering pitifully and carrying a bad weather helm owing to his port fin being shot away, was thrashing off south-east-by-south. The sea was calm at the time, there was some slight cirro-cumulus cloud in the sky and the glass stood at 29.85, quite high for these waters. We have retained the empty cartridges and the broken slingshot for examination by capable ballistic and fingerprint officials, fearing that some doubt may be cast on this story by landsmen or even by Capt. Pugnet himself.’ gallant sportsman that he is. Many of the boys skinned their whales but, unfortunately, much calm and intense heat subsequently encountered, spoiled these valuable souvenirs and they had to be jettisoned. We are hoping ardently—our evening divine services being directed toward that end—that the wounded whale will be captured and shipped to us, parcel post collect, at Marblehead, Mass., General Delivery, our next stop. He is black and answers to the name of Clarence and any information leading to his arrest and conviction will be awarded suitably by the undersigned. WARWICK M. TOMPKINS

(Master)

Aboard Wander Bird Bar Harbor, Me.

Ogopogoes Explained

Sirs:

Your issue of Aug. 4 has a reference to the ogopogoes of Okanagan Lake and Williams Lake in British Columbia.

Your readers may be interested to learn how the name came to be applied to these mysterious lake-serpents.

Some three years ago the Vancouver Board of Trade was on tour through the Okanagan Valley and at the pretty city of Vernon the delegates were guests of Vernon Rotarians at luncheon. The musical programme included a song “I’m looking for the Ogopogo” which has a swinging chorus and was originally introduced in a London musical show. We delegates picked up the song and decided that as we were in the Okanagan we might as well “look for the Ogopogo.” The name became popular and has spread all over the world. There are various theories as to the nature of the lake-serpent but the one which appeals to me is that it is composed of a mother otter, followed by her pups, swimming near the mouth of a creek. The pups would look like the curves of a lake-serpent.

RONALD KENVYN

Daily Province Vancouver, B. C.

Ambition

Sirs:

Thanks for turning up the item (in your issue of Aug. 11) about Fascist soldiers firing on a rescue party of St. Bernard monks, ft did not appear in any of the dailies I read. . . . My greatest (presumably unattainable) ambition as a modern woman with civilized tastes: to snub Mussolini.

ALICE McKINSURY

Chicago, Ill.

No-Nation Girl

Sirs:

In reference to the letter and review [of The No-Nation Girl in TIME, Aug. 11, may I call your attention to two mistakes made in stating the plot? Allow me to quote from the first paragraph of chapter 5. “Cliff Dale could not have been called a northerner.” He was purposely created a composite. His mother a “luxury loving daughter of a plantation owner of the traditional grand style.” His father was from Pennsylvania. Cliff spent about half of his time in the south with his uncle, thus he was both by inheritance and environment about half and half. It has been my observation also that northern men are more apt to look askance at the dusky beauties of the South. Also, according to Freud, a young man from the North would not have fallen, thus, from grace. I might add, irrelevantly, that I am a Northerner by birth and tradition. I am originally from Bismarck, N. Dak. My great-grandfather was a personal friend of Lincoln and outfitted a company with his own resources in the Northern army. Relatives and friends still reside in Bismarck. The second mistake was this: Precieuse did not commit suicide. “. . . In the agony of her grief, the white had striven to reassert itself. But now, as she threw her body forward and felt herself falling, even in that instant, the black finally triumphed. “Instantly the fear of a suicide’s death stiffened the grip of her strong fingers on the willow branch. “Too late. The brittle willow branch snapped. Vith a wild scream she fell, clawing at the crumbling bank, into the silent motionless water.” So you see—on the theory that a Negro never commits suicide—unless living in an unnatural environment such as cities—Precieuse did not commit suicide. The No-Nation Girl has both made us some very good friends and lost us some friends also. . . . VIOLET ASHLEY WALL

(Mrs. Evans Wall) Pond, Miss.

Mr. Muchenberger’s Way Sirs: I have been reading a great deal, of late, in your columns on ”SPEND UNTIL IT HURTS” (TIME, Aug. 18). I have a little suggestion to make in furthering the aims of such an enterprise, which if you think worthy, publish in your columns. As an employe of the Muchenberger Bros. Wallpaper and Paint Co., of Kansas City, Mo., I, with other employes were called together one eve by our President, Mr. Leo Muchenberger to receive not a lecture, but a heart-to-heart talk on the present economic condition of our great and vast country, such as the available markets, present low prices on some of our most needed commodities of every day living, overproduction, and what not. Summing up the situation, Mr. Muchenberger stated we were not spending enough money, not buying sufficiently—saying we should spend more and until it hurt for the necessities of life. Blessed Pat he was aware of the fact we were spending all we were earning for the existence that all are entitled. But—he has gone further, to each of his employes in four branches: namely, Kansas City, St. Joseph. Mo., Oklahoma City, Okla., and Houston, Tex., he presented the sum of $30 to be spent immediately, at once, if not sooner, on the purchase of some necessity, as food, clothing, fuel, etc.. ANYTHING, with the idea in mind of creating a purchasing power. Sounds fishy, doesn’t it, Mr. Business Man? No, Quite to the contrary. The only strings attached, if they may be termed so, were, first, that each employe might spend this sum as he saw fit EXCEPT this sum must not be used as the first payment of any article on the installment plan; secondly, that each employe present him with an itemized statement of all purchases. Such a proposition, of course, cost Mr. Muchenberger a huge sum of money. But don’t you think he has the right idea to stimulate a buying power and business in general? Just imagine, if each employer in the U. S. presented his employes, not $30, but say $5, $10, or $15—what a buying medium it would create under the plan as outlined. Surely by all industries joining in such an enterprise, some of this new business would revert either directly or indirectly. It is beyond a reasonable doubt it would be a change from the old battle cry of hard times. Think it over Mr. Editor, Mr. Public, Mr. Business Man. Now let’s hear from someone else.

THOMAS F. WELLS

Kansas City, Kans.

Big End First

Sirs:

In TIME, Aug. 11, p. 21, is shown a mechanical hen et al. The hen is about to deliver an egg to the young lady. The egg is being delivered small end first. I have seen many hens deliver eggs, always big end first. How come?

J. G. WEBB

Richmond, Va.

Egg-watcher Webb is correct, the U. S. Department of Agriculture in error—ED.

W9NAP Not Commercial

Sirs:

I have read with considerable interest your account of “Television Leaves the Laboratory” contained in the Aug. 25 issue of TIME. It is not strictly accurate to classify the program as a commercial television service because there will be nothing of commercial nature broadcast over The Daily News television station W9NAP.

Mr. McDougall is interested in television. He is interested in bringing before the public some of the problems which must be solved to make television of practical use in the homes. The arrangement for Libby McNeill & Libby to sponsor a program on WMAQ which will likewise be sent out over W9NAP does not extend beyond the first program. All experimental work will be carried out by The Daily News and the cost will be borne by The Daily News, not by any outside organization.

We have no desire to “circumvent the rules” and will operate the station strictly in accordance with the policies outlined by the Federal Radio Commission.

WILLIAM S. HEDGES

President WMAQ, Inc. Chicago, Ill.

Lassman & Zarakov

Sirs:

I read with interest the article “Zakelo’s Tragedy,” in Aug. 11 issue of TIME. It directly contradicts the article which appeared in the Hartford C our ant of Aug. 5 which I am enclosing. According to the newspaper clipping “Al Lassman” was a guest at the camp taking the rest cure and not a counsellor nor was he paid for his services. Will TIME kindly verify which is correct.

H. C. HARTWELL

Hartford, Conn.

For services rendered Camp Zakelo, the late Al Lassman was to have been paid $200.—ED.

Bojacks Sirs:

Your excellent article entitled “Big Dick’s Plans” under heading Education, Aug. 18 issue; I wish to enter correction.

The term “bo-jack” originated in 1901 at Lake Forest Academy during which time I was attending this school. This term was used to designate all first year boys and has since that time been generally in use at this wonderful school. . . .

ROBERT W. TANSILL

Chicago, Ill.