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Sir: Scholars in the academic disciplines have long suspected that pretentious edu cationist jargon [Aug. 9] betrays a scar city of actual content. This "educanto" seems to be a brave facade hiding a bleakness of thought, a paucity of ideas and an intellectual immaturity.
E. R. LOCKE
Orlando, Fla.
Sir: Although — together with Professor Simpson — I would be the first to admit that much sociological jargon resembles gibberish, it is an interesting comment upon the difference in status between disciplines that we do not criticize physicians for talking about pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, or physicists for talking about a "neutrino."
The simple fact is that human group behavior is complex and variegated. Lay language often does not do justice to this quality. Popular translations of sociological literature can frequently be compared to the difference between Disney's exploding pingpong balls on mousetraps and an original essay in fission by Albert Einstein.
RITCHIE P. LOWRY
Associate Professor of Sociology Chico State College
Chico, Calif.
Schlesinger's Painting Sir: As a former South African, I was interested in your story on John Schlesinger [Aug. 2], but I was even more interested in the sophisticated painting behind him. Please identify it.
(MRS.) MARGOT BARKHAM
New York City
Pucci, Pants & Parliament
Sir: I hope Mr. Emilio Pucci is a huge success in the Italian Parliament [Aug. 16]; then maybe he won't have time to design women's fashions. Mr. Pucci seems to think that we American women will abandon the tops of our bathing suits. Hasn't he heard that we are all inhibited by Puritan ethics? Besides, if you wear his pocketless Capri pants, the only place left to carry money, cigarettes, etc. is in a bra or swimming-suit top.
ANNE STEWART Chicago One Man's Taste Sir: How does your writer of "This Year in Marienbad" [Aug. 16] know what "well rusted steel wool" tastes like?
(S/SGT.) JOHN T. WIBLE
U.S.A.F.
> ∎Well, his wife was away and he was doing his own cooking — and ouch. Tasted rather like old turnips, he says. — ED.
*A miner's disease caused by inhaling very fine silicate or quartz dust.