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The degree was arranged for Sir Charles by Sholokhov as a return compliment for the role Sir Charles had played in the bestowing of an honorary doctorate on Sholokhov at Scotland's Saint Andrews University in April 1962, the first Russian writer to be so honored in a British university since Turgenev's honorary doctorate at Oxford in 1879. I was born and grew up in Rostov. That coat of felt and goat's wool is surely familiar to me, even though it does not at all belong in any groves of academe.
ALBERT PARRY Colgate University Hamilton, N.Y.
Biblical Weather Report Sir: In his attempt to update the Bible [Oct. 23] so that it reads like today's newspaper in a common-denominator prose, Translator Speiser sacrifices vision along with poetic diction. The opening lines of Genesis sound like a weather report on Hurricane Hilda instead of an image or symbol of the active power of God brooding over dumb creation and awakening a response.
CYRUS J. PURDY White Plains, N.Y.
Sir: Comparing the King James Bible with the version cobbled up by the Anchor Press, Mr. Webster might justifiably say that they have transformed, transferred, removed, changed, transported and ravished the story of the Bible.
A. J. BALDERMAN San Diego
Boomp
Sir: Jim Phelan apologizes "to TIME for having stolen a vivid line from you—five months before you wrote it [Oct. 23]." But for technique and style you both owe at least a nod to the old English prayer book. The comment seems to have been inspired by the lines in the litany: "From Ghoulies, and Ghosties, and three-legged beasties, and things that go boomp in the night, Good Lord, deliver us." ALLAN W. WENDT Columbia, S.C.
Ask for Men of Balanchine
Sir: Once I was a devoted fan of the New York City Ballet, but I have attended few performances in past years. Your article unconsciously explains why [Oct. 30].
George Balanchine has drained ballet of all its theatricalism and has left us with a series of impersonal ballet exercises and pseudo-acrobatic routines danced by equally impersonal technicians. Nowhere in your article does Mr. Balanchine or your writer give any hope for the sadly lacking male segment of the company.
Are the "ballerinas" all that Balanchine is interested in? Tall ones at that. What about the tall men needed to partner them? As for Balanchine's statement that any one of his ballerinas would be a prima ballerina with any other company —I find this highly improbable. Ballerinas as we know them are far more than impersonal technicians. They are highly individual and technically exacting personalities. Mr. Balanchine's girls are not.
RICHARD MEALEY New York City Uncoveted Neighbors
Sir: Omphaloskepsis, then, is no longer the métier of only the Buddhists [Oct. 30]. The difference is that instead of regarding our own, we are apt to be concerned with that of our neighbor's wife. But perhaps it is only a passing navelty.
NEAL HOPKINS Annapolis
Sir: How do you compliment the lady who has her navel on display? Your Hawaiian readers should surely tell you the cordial solution is their traditional salutation, "Pehea ká piko?" That is to say, "How's the navel?"
JOHN C. UEHLINGER Coronado, Calif.