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I strongly suspect Secretary Stimson of borrowing his "bathtub" analogy— from Secretary Mellon's experience with the bathtubs of the old Bull Hotel in Cambridge, England. I recently stayed there and largely failed to solve the intricacies of the 18-inch brass and rubber stoppers with the thumb screw attachment in the same three tubs which Mr. Mellon used, and of which the Dull Hotel is justly proud (TIME, Aug. 3). There seems to be no way to manipulate to prevent a slow but steady drain. But the Hull Hotel is one of the best and most comfortable hotels in Cambridge and close to the Senate House where Mellon & Son took degrees together (Benjamin Franklin and his son had degrees conferred upon them together there).
When bathing facilities were first suggested for one of the colleges of Cambridge University the Head Master demurred on the grounds that the students were there only 34 weeks of the year.
The expression, "Hobson's Choice" originated in the stables back of the Bull Hotel (now the hotel garage). Hostler Hobson insisted upon exact rotation of his horses and always told students to "take your choice, as long as you take the one nearest the door."
CLARENCE P. OAKES
New College Oxford, England
Culver to Staunton
Sirs:
We have been very much interested in the editorial, "Staunton versus Culver" (TIME, Aug. 10).
The statement of the comparison of numbers to which you refer will be found in the Historical Section in the catalog, copy of which 1 am forwarding, on p. 18. This statement reads as follows: "Colonel Fleet continued as Superintendent of the institution for fourteen years, the school under his direction growing steadily in size, and perfecting its methods and equipment. In the course oj twelve years, from a corps of thirty cadets, quartered in a frame building, and scarcely known within its own State, the Academy grew to an enrollment, including its winter and summer sessions, of 677 cadets, over double the number receiving military instruction in any other private school in the United States."
This statement, as you will readily see, referred to the comparative enrollments of Culver and other military schools in 1909 and not to the present time.
We deeply regret that a misunderstanding should have arisen in the matter, especially on the part of any of our Staunton friends as wo have only the highest regard for this excellent institution. F. L. BROOKE
Registrar
Culver Military Academy Culver, Ind.
Barbaric Yawper
Sirs: