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I cannot of course say whether September Morn is still in the possession of Mr. Herrick's family but what I have told you may throw some light upon the search which is being made for it.
SAMUEL HARDEN CHURCH President The Carnegie Institute Pittsburgh, Pa.
Paris art connoisseurs believe the late Ambassador Herrick was mistaken. He occupied the house of the Due de Broglie, whose brother owned many a Chabas painting of bathing nudes but not September Morn. But TIME is indebted to Subscriber Church and to an anonymous TIME-reader for helping pick up September Morn's trail which previously stopped dead at Moscow. Thither the painting had been taken by Leon Mantacheff, who bought it in 1912 for 50,000 francs. After the Russian Revolution it mysteriously disappeared. TIME'S informant reported that as recently as 1929 he had seen September Morn in Mantacheff's Paris home, that Mantacheff related how he smuggled the canvas out of Russia. Last week newshawks in Paris found Mantacheff, learned he had sold the painting a year ago for 90,000 francs to Calouste Sartis Gulbenkian, a naturalized Briton, born in Armenia, who made a fortune by wangling a 5% share in the Irak oil concessions (TIME, Dec. 12, 1932). September Morn hangs in his home at No. 51 Avenue Sena. Said Mr. Gulbenkian's secretary: "Please be kind enough to tell the world that Mr. Gulbenkian has no intention of selling the painting and does not want to be bothered with prospective purchasers." Exulted white-haired Artist Chabas, with tears in his eyes: "I am enchanted to know that the painting is unharmed."—ED.
Job Well Done
Sirs:
Congratulations to TIME for the Army & Navy section in the issue of March 25. It is entirely unique, because it is entirely accurate. The thinking citizen can better understand what we are, what we have, and what we seek to achieve as a result of that article which is certain to be widely read.
Your kindly and understanding comments about General MacArthur will be especially pleasing to those who have taken the trouble to ascertain the facts about his handling of the 1932 Bonus Army. For doing a job well which he was ordered to do, for doing it in person which he need not have done, he has taken a great deal of criticism in silence, like the fine soldier he is.
RUSSEL B. REYNOLDS Captain, 22nd Infantry Warm Springs, Ga.
Butcher Boy & Vile Business
Sirs:
It seems that even TIME is becoming infected with the accursed virus of jingoism, and its twin brother, militarism.
Anyway, the front cover of your issue of March 25 comes forth with a swell-looking picture of America's No. 1 Butcher Boy. and practically all of pp. 15, 16, 17 and 18 is devoted to America's part in the World's Vilest Business. . . .
DUANE MAGILL Grand Junction, Colo.