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JOHN F. LAUGHLIN
Editor
Family Digest
Huntington, Ind.
Sir / As a psychologist, I am surprised by the naiveté of those who think that having sought professional assistance during periods of emotional stress in the past is evidence of present or future emotional disturbance.
How many of us can state with absolute certainty that we have no psychological imperfections? Does a history of professional help for an emotionally distressed condition mean that there is a present emotional problem? Not at all. It might well mean that such a person has learned to deal with his or her tensions in a rational and effective way, and is all the more stable for having courageously chosen the road of critical self-appraisal.
ALLEN E.WIESEN
Clinical Psychologist
Bellevue, Wash.
Sir / Although there should be no stigma attached to medical treatment for psychiatric problems, Mr. Eagleton's lack of candor, and not the medical history itself, made his value to the Democratic ticket highly questionable.
FRANCES S. VANDERVOORT
Chicago
Arrogant Genius
Sir / To some people Bobby Fischer is impudent, arrogant, self-serving and somewhat childish [July 31]. They are probably right, but do they know that he has to be rated one of the most brilliant chess masters of all time? Do they know that he alone has probably brought more prize money and better playing conditions to tournament chess than all the greats combined?
The next time someone feels like criticizing Fischer, he should think about his favorite ballplayer who is a holdout, or the last time he himself fought for more money.
FRANCIS J. WELCH JR
Rochester
Sir / I was ashamed to read of Bobby Fischer's performance. I can't imagine anyone discrediting his country more than this man has been doing.
My best wishes to Boris Spassky. I feel the title and money should have been awarded to him by default.
CAROLE LAVIGNE
Enfield, Conn.
Sir / A long, loud cheer for the team that put together your cover story on the fantastic goings on in the world of chess. It is a superb piece of writing: fact giving, terrifically dramatic and uproariously funny. I saw some of the characters whose antics you describe in a tournament held way back in the early '20s. I saw Alekhine beaten and half choked by Emmanuel Lasker's cigar smoke. I had a front-row seat for that game and got a good dose of that smoke myself
ROBERT W. WOOD JR.
Princeton, N.J.
Sir / For the first time in its history, the World Chess Championship has an American as a finalist for the title. And what occurs? That singularly American characteristic—money-grubbing commercialism —tarnishes what was once an honorable game of intelligence demanding more than a flair for venality. The American challenger typifies his country and its culture in proving to be petulant and puerile, with the usual American propensity for profiteering.
BRUNO T.CLIFTON
Radnorshire, Wales
Sir / I hope Spassky crowns him.
HAL CARSON Mount Dora, Fla.
Domain of a Few