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Sir / I enjoyed your article on the beautiful beach rites on New Year's Eve in Rio [Jan. 10] and the spiritists who take part.
Sometimes the present age intrudes on the primitive. As a Methodist missionary in the Rio area in recent years, I often attended rituals with my friends. One Saturday evening of chants, dances and descending spirits started a half-hour late. The leader of the group had to watch the end of a soccer game on TV before he would begin.
(THE REV.) WARREN L. DANSKIN
New York City
Sir / You have gone too far in trying to describe spiritism as a pagan cult in Brazil. You have confused African religious rites, such as Quimbanda and Umbanda, which were brought by the slaves, with the Christian religion of spiritism.
Chico Xavier, the leading Brazilian spiritist writer, has taken part in many TV programs and his appearances were sedate and dignified. Umbanda Spokesman Seu Sete's only appearance on television' was on a curiosity show.
A.R. DE FREITAS
Sāo Paulo
A New Kind of Love
Sir / With reference to your well-deserved tribute to Maurice Chevalier [Jan. 10], you mention that one of the American favorites he sang was If a Nightingale Could Sing Like You.
Not to indulge in nitpicking, but just to set the record straight, while that was the opening line of the chorus, the correct title was You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me.
MONROE H. LOEB
Oak Park, Ill.
Now, Something for the Women
Sir / If Morton Golden's theory is that men use football games "as a fantasy to relive the youthful sexual aggressiveness" [Jan. 10], what does he have to offer to women who are the "football nuts"?
JANETL. PATHAK
Westlake, Ohio
Sir / To Morton Golden and his sex theory on football watching, I say "Horse feathers!" Is Monday night football on TV an X-rated program?
MRS. ROBERT TROUGHTON
Newport Beach, Calif.
Sir / Really, Doc, that's all I'm allowed on Sunday afternoon in the living room, what with the kids and the possibility that one of the friendly neighborhood priests might drop in.
BERNARD CROGAN
La Crosse, Wis.