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In TIME, May 25, I noticed a full-page announcement featuring a Yale man ("Yale,'36") who says that wearing an Elgin watch is one of the traditions of his family. As a University of Minnesota man I would like to report on the regrettable lack of family traditions out here in the Middle West. Traditions are much undervalued: even opposed. Not long ago I heard another University of Minnesota man remark, "Can you imagine it—my whole family religiously eats Wheaties every morning!" I considered the remark interesting in that it illustrates the blind resistance of Minnesota men to the growth of tradition. In this case I strongly suspected that a few traditions would do the young man's family no harm whatever. (He is a mere acquaintance: I hardly know the fellow, really.) My own family, I am happy to report, resembles the socially prominent families of the East in its loyalty to family traditions. As an instance, we wear nothing but Munsingwear garments next to the skin. Nothing else will do, you understand. Moreover, of late a new tradition has taken hold: we are becoming quite athletically inclined, and as a result have now used six bottles of Absorbine Jr. I have wondered, now and then, whether this is sufficient to constitute a full-fledged family tradition. By Minnesota standards? Perhaps. But by Yale standards? It is doubtful. Eight or nine bottles would be another matter, but I'm inclined to think six bottles would not be quite enough. A. ANDERSON I Minneapolis, Minn.
Chase to Chase
Sirs: My name is Chase. I am more than 60 years of age and have five children and nine grandchildren. In your May 25 issue, I read that S. A. Chase comments unfavorably concerning your art section in the May 11 issue where there was displayed the figure of a slightly less than nude woman—Sunday Morning. To me this print was alluring and certainly proper from all viewpoints. Our young people in our private and public schools are taken to the art museums where there is more or less nudity displayed. Our public buildings many times have statuary of more or less nudity. I invite the attention of Mr. S. A. Chase to the May 1936 bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This is the first time I have known of a Chase who did not admire the nudity of a woman in the flesh or otherwise. W. W. CHASE President The Cleveland Real Estate Investment Co. Cleveland, Ohio
Sirs:
Do Readers Chase, Henry, Edwin, Trimble (TIME, May 25) and the countless others who disapprove but do not write think it is possible to keep children from seeing the human body unclothed? Must children and adults wear blinders when they visit the traveling Van Gogh Exhibit? Must we as parents and teachers strive to keep children innocent and at the same time expect them to find their way in the world when they leave the protection of the home? My six-year-old son looks at TIME pictures (news and advertising) regularly and of course sees the nude pictures along with the others. Sunday Morning (TIME, May 11) aroused mild curiosity on his part which gave me the opportunity to answer some very pertinent questions. I welcome this opportunity and sincerely hope that TIME, the all-family magazine, will continue to print newsworthy pictures. MRS. WILLIAM E. KNUTH San Francisco State Teachers College San Francisco, Calif.