Ohioan Presidents v. Virginian Sirs: A Virginian, in TIME, Dec. 15, p. 4, in a letter criticizing a statement of yours and titled by you "Virginia 8, Ohio 7" claims honors for his State as the Mother of Presidents. Virginia undoubtedly has a certain claim, but I think one much less valid than that of Ohio. Of Virginia's eight presidents, only seven were elected to that office; Tyler was Harrison's vice president. All seven of Ohio's presidents were elected. Furthermore two of Virginia's remaining seven were inaugurated before Ohio was admitted to the union, and four of the seven were inaugurated before Ohio's population equaled that of Virginia. Only two of Virginia's presidents were born after the Revolution, i.e. in the State of Virginia, and one of them was Woodrow Wilson whose political life, prior to his election to the presidency, was spent entirely within the boundaries of New Jersey. Ohio's seven were born in the State of Ohio. In other words, Virginia had a temporary advantage arising from geographical accident; as a seacoast colony it started first. ROBERT S. MONTGOMERY Boston, Mass.
Trench Rent
Sirs : I have heard recently from two different and quite authoritative sources that in settling the War Reparations Debts, France has charged the U. S. rent for the trench space the American troops occupied in 1917-18. Can you tell me if this has any foundation in fact ? FRANCIS H. HOYT Montclair, N. J. Ridiculous!—ED.
Rockne's Religion Sirs: We note that on p. 2 of TIME for Dec. 22 that Knute Rockne, the famous football coach, was converted to Catholicism some four years ago. We are enclosing a clipping from p. 20 of the Pathfinder for Jan. 3, which states that Rockne is a Protestant. Will you please explain the discrepancy between these two answers to the same question? . . . ALICE W. HICKMAN Sioux City, Iowa Knute Kenneth Rockne became a Roman Catholic Nov. 21, 1925.—ED.
Ferocious Painted Tom-Cats Sirs: In Jan. 12 issue of TIME is an article headed "Poisoned Promenade," which tells of what a hard time the authorities are having in New York in trying to prevent the dogs from killing the shrubbery in Park Avenue as they "run, sniff and soon " up and down that fashionable thoroughfare. I had a somewhat similar experience with dogs killing the shrubbery in front of my house, after the telegraph poles and trees had been removed from the street. And I succeeded in breaking up the frolic, although I didn't have to resort to arsenic in doing so. I had pictures of ferocious looking Tomcats done in yellow, and I placed these pictures in front of the shrubbery.
Sirs:
In Jan. 12 issue of TIME is an article headed "Poisoned Promenade," which tells of what a hard time the authorities are having in New York in trying to prevent the dogs from killing the shrubbery in Park Avenue as they "run, sniff and so on" up and down that fashionable thoroughfare.