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Better Homes and Gardens increased from 700,000 in 1926 to 900,000 in 1927 and guarantees 1,000,000 in 1928. These are increases of 29% and 11% for these two years. TIME increased from 100,000 (January 1926) to 138,000 (January 1927) and guarantees 175,000 for 1928 — increases of 38% and 26%. TIME, then, well merits the title of "fastest-growing." Despite this fact, TIME does not wish to have its advertising claims questioned and shall change the line to read "fastest-growing non-fiction weekly in the U. S." and leave the title of "fastest-growing non-fiction monthly" to fast-growing Better Homes and Gardens. — ED.
"Swen Olsen"
Sirs: An interesting tale came to me the other day and, though it came from a credible source, I am passing it on to you for verification — with the thought in mind that, if true, it might be equally interesting to you. The story goes around through our northern Scandinavian country that the real name of our great bandmaster, John Philip Sousa, is Swen Olsen. It was his custom, in traveling about the world, to mark his luggage with his initials, S. O. followed on the same line with U. S. A., for United States of America. From this evolved his name Sousa, which no doubt to his mind was a grander name for a world famed bandmaster. K. S. ROSAAEN
St. Louis, Mo.
On p. 175 of Through the Year With Sousa (published by Crowell) by John Philip Sousa, Mr. Sousa says: "The story of the supposed origin of my name is a rattling good one, and, like all ingenious fables, permits of international variation. The German version is that my name is Sigismund Ochs, a great musician, born on the Rhine, emigrated to America, trunk marked S. 0., U. S. A., therefore the name. The English version is that I am one Sam Ogden, a great musician, Yorkshire man, emigrated to America, luggage marked S. O., U. S. A., hence the cognomen. The domestic brand of the story is that I am a Greek named Philipso, emigrated to America, a great musician; carried my worldly possessions in a box marked S. O., U. S. A., therefore the patronymic." Mr. Sousa was born in Washington, D. C., 1854. His father was Portuguese, his mother Bavarian. — ED.
An Insult to Congress