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Sirs: I am surprised that your usually (and unusually) well-informed editors should say (TIME, April 18) : "Just as the original 13 American United States grew so mutually jealous that in 1790 it was necessary to set aside the District of Columbia." If you don't know better the causes of the setting aside of the District of Columbia, let Mr. W. E. Woodward, whom you so much admire (TIME, April 25) tell you: "Eighty soldiers mutinied at Lancaster, Pa., in June, 1783. They marched on Philadelphia and appeared in front of the State House where Congress was in session. Congress called on the Executive Council of Pennsylvania, meeting in the same building, for protection, but the Council was afraid to bring out the militia, as it was thought that the militia might join the mutineers. The soldiers declared that they wanted their pay and intended to take it from the treasury. They pointed their guns at the Congressional windows but did not fire them. Congress sent an urgent message for help to Washington, who was then at West Point, and without waiting to see what the result would be, the members of Congress unheroically slipped through the back door and made their way through a golden June sunset to Princeton in New Jersey, thus abandoning the seat of government to eighty mutineers and a sergeant."—Washington—Hero or Image. It was to assure to Congress a home of its own where it could protect itself from insults of this character that the District was established. TENCH T. MARYE
Washington, D. C.
In Latvia
Sirs: To a relative of mine who happens be in Riga, Latvia I send frequently your delightful periodical. I herewith quote a criticism on the subject of an article that appeared in an issue several weeks ago [TIME, March 28] to the effect that the German Envoy to Latvia was making himself and his country popular by taking to the local customs and drinking beer with the natives: "TIME seems a little misinformed. Dr. Koester has been here since Latvia was acknowledged as such by the Germans—not three months ago as TIME has it. It is true he is a florid beerbibber and goes in for 'Beer Abends' sing-songs —'very-very' parties lasting well into the day after, but these are entirely international and he has had them all the time, so that is nothing new. He is a cheery bird but as a minister representing a Great Power he lacks in dignity. He fraternizes with all the Revue actresses—German and Lettish, and doesn't do it discreetly either. I wonder if you spotted in that same issue—Foreign column—another error. There is a long article on Maria Feodorovna—nee of Denmark and it goes on to say 'whom you see here' and the accompanying picture is of the murdered Empress Alexandra of Russia." H. G. ADDISON
Washington, D. C.
To the International Newsreel Corp., a rebuke for supplying TIME with a photograph of the late Empress Alexandra labeled "Maria Feodorovna Russian Czarina B 8146." To an erring TIME subeditor, a thoroughgoing reprimand for not discovering that Dr. Adolf Koester was appointed German Minister to Latvia on Feb. 6, 1923.—ED.
Again, Altman