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The practice of allowing a man to be a member of more than one undergraduate social fraternity once existed at Harvard. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities verifies this as it names T.R. as a member of both Deke and Alpha Delt. As a result, Delta Kappa Epsilon honors Roosevelt as one of its greatest members, and we do not feel inclined to allow Alpha Delta Phi exclusive claim.
JAMES A. MARTENS Ann Arbor, Mich.
Glad Handers?
Sir:
How foolish can the Democrats, including ex-President Truman, get? That A.P. picture in your March 3 issue of Harry and Faubus shaking hands across the table is good for hundreds of thousands of votes for Nixon in 1960.
C. C. CUNNINGHAM
San Diego
Re-engineered Smoke
Sir:
In your March 3 prompt reporting of the [House Government Operations Committee] hearing, there is an error in your reference to our Parliament and Marlboro brands. I refer you to the report of the hearings where you will note that both the new high nitration Parliament and Marlboro are among the top three popular-price brands in low tar and nicotine delivery according to the Government's accepted figures. These brands were re-engineered late in 1957 and by February of this year were further reduced in tar and nicotine delivery.
ROBERT P. ROPER Vice President Philip Morris Inc. New York City
Baskin in Sympathy
Sir:
We have just finished reading your March 3 report of the Lakeland, Ga. school board's recent action against Teacher Minnie Lee Baskin. The Georgia gentlemen's reason for firing her [for letting one of her white students ride in a Negro bus] is undoubtedly the most shocking revelation of ignorance displayed in the South to date. But let's give Mrs. Baskin a break. She did not intend to promote interracial matrimony; she merely permitted a nine-year-old white boy to get home in time for supper.
JUDY ESTY '58 MICHAEL MOORE '58 SUE HOLTZ '58 Vassar College Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Sir:
After reading your article, millions of Americans will laugh those three Dickensian characters (Superintendent Threatte, Board Chairman Thigpen and Member Crum) to scorn, and that sweet little old lady in your portrait will be Baskin in the warm sunshine of public sympathy and approval.
EARL C. MERCER Bloomfield, Conn.
Optics v. Art
Sir:
If El Greco was astigmatic [March 3] figures would have appeared elongated to him, but so would his canvas. If he painted precisely as he saw, the effect would have been self-correcting. An astigmatic person may see a circle as an ellipse, but if asked to draw what he sees, he will draw a circle. I bet an eye doctor would back me up that El Greco's elongations were artistic, not optical, aberrations.
RODERIC C. HODGINS Cambridge, Mass.
Sir:
Astigmatism, closing one eye, or somehow throwing one eye out of commission makes it possible for the painter to see reality simultaneously in three dimensions. The painter tilts his head; horizontal and vertical lines and shapes correspondingly shift and tilt from one lower corner to the opposite upper corner of the canvas.
This rhythm helps to counteract the destructive forces of perspective.
HENRY KOERNER
Pittsburgh
After the Storm
Sir: