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Yes, all great literary artists, Chaucer, Shakespeare and all the others have employed clear-cut descriptions of dominant physical features to make their characters living personalities. We know how true this is in our own day and age. We must have all the available facts about the Movie Stars, and if our favorite Prima Donna sings like a bird, we must know if she has legs like a canary. Humorous as this may be, isn't it the truth?
GEORGE W. LYON
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Whiskers
Sirs: When you read proof on p. 15 of the Aug. 3 issue, did no one yelp when whiskerless Governor Murray (Oklahoma) was seen in a cut next to "Red River War," in which he was referred to as "bewhiskered?" Or do you construe the possession of a generous mustache (as has Governor Murray) as admitting the appellation "bewhiskered?"
ORRIN T. PIERSON
Howells, N. Y.
To TIME, a whisker is a whisker whether it grows out of chin, ear, nostril, facial mole or upper lip.—ED.
Big Dick's Feat
Sirs:
Must a headmaster be a contortionist, or is "Big Dick" Richards an exception? TIME does not specify, but the description (Aug. 10) is vivid: "Throwing his leg over the arm of his chair and scratching the back of his head. . . ."
Perhaps if the rest of us could do that, ideas would be more plentiful.
D. G. HARING
Syracuse, N. Y.
Hog on Ice
Sirs:
Your correspondent, Mr. Stewart (p. 4 of Aug. 10 issue) displays what ve like to call a "British deficiency in humor," branding as unreasonable a plainly fantastic expression.
On the farm, some 70 years ago, and I presume up to now, it was often said of a man that he was "independent as a hog on ice: if he can't stand up he can lie down." The explanatory half of the saying dropped out of use as obvious. TIME might have more pertinently retorted to the gentleman from Indiana.
H. A. SMITH
Buffalo, N. Y.
Reed Utility
Sirs:
Your recent story concerning the difficulties confronting Oilman Doherty (TIME, July 20) brings to mind the fact that Jim Reed is a brother of the owner of one of the largest utilities in Iowa. John Reed's system operates a short distance from the Missouri line. Perhaps interest in the "peepul" parallels his interest in the Reed family.
R. H. CRAXFORD
Indianapolis, Ind.
John A. Reed, brother of onetime Senator Reed, is vice president of Iowa Railway & Light Corp. ($35,000,000), centring in Cedar Rapids, selling electricity to central Iowa cities, operating a Cedar Rapids trolley system, an interurban line to Iowa City and a statewide bus line. Iowa Railway & Light is, as yet, nowhere in competition with Vice President Reed's brother's foe's Cities Service Co.—ED.
Runner Newton
Sirs:
Some kind friend has sent me a copy of your publication of Aug. 4, 1930 wherein is a picture of myself and a really gorgeous column of fiction. No doubt you printed what you thought was right but you have my word for it—for what it is worth—that there is hardly a true statement from top to bottom. . . .