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The Mice That Roared
Sir: In reply to Mr. Juniper's letter in defense of Austin [April 1]: Although "a little old Texas mouse" may be "a friendly critter," one that I happen to like, I was painfully surprised to find that a whole tribe of friendly critters had set up housekeeping in the oven, closets and dog-food bags in my brand-new house; they forced me, contrary to my inclinations, to start a trap-hunting campaign. To be sure, mousetraps are rather cheap in Texas: 19¢ a pair. In my years in Europe, New England and Tennessee, I have neither become acquainted with so many rodents nor have I met such a variety of insects as I have known in my brief Texas stay. Had I majored in entomology, Texas would be for me a veritable paradise.
MELVINA L. WARRICK Killeen, Texas
Cast of Characters
Sir: It has not been clearly explained how people are removed from the plaster [April 1].
LILLIAN J. ALFKE New Milford, N.J.
Sir: 'The Casting of Ethel Scull" is old hat around here. Ten years or so ago, Bette and I cast our faces in plaster; I had to go first. The casting went as smooth as silk. I even posed on the kitchen floor with a lily in my hand and my face in the firm grip of a plaster mask. I didn't realize how firm a grip it was until I attempted to remove it. (We had used petroleum jelly without the benefit of Saran.) I was hung up by my hair and my eyelashes. My eyebrows pulled out without any fuss, but I couldn't bear to part with my eyelids. So, holding my "face" in one hand, I began to demolish the project with a hammer in the other. Pieces near my eyes broke off, and Bette sliced away blindly with a pair of scissors, shearing off my eyelashes. Once I could see, I was able to remove my inch-thick plaster skullcap by crushing it with a pair of pliers and combing out the remains. I had a rather blank expression for several weeks.
ROBERT A. KELLY Glendale, N.Y.