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In your excellent article on Mr. Orson Welles [TIME, May 9] you mentioned the fact that that gentleman will be 23 years old some day this month. Can you recall the exact day? I would like to know for purely astrological reasons.
R. G. HAMILTON
Woodside, L. I.
Actor Welles was bom May 6, 1915, under the sign of Taurus ("The Bull" —April 20 to May 20). Says American Astrology's character delineation of the child of Taurus: Personality: "Fond of . . . the finer-things in life. . . . Eyes large, face broad, body heavy set and inclining to be fleshy." Finances: "He shall personally own that which he works with, or is interested in. . . ." Health: "If there is one thing that Taurus likes better than a big juicy steak it is the money with which to buy another one. . . ." Vocation: "Taurus is the sign governing the throat and vocal organs. ... It gives a deep, low voice, with soft, mellow tones. . . ." For a scientist's findings on astrology, see TIME, May 16. Let TIME readers who are interested in astrological parallels reread TIME'S story on broad-faced Orson Welles.—ED.
"Hump"
Sirs:
The word "hump" obscene? (TIME, May 2). This is disturbing news to me, as I've borne it as a nickname for years.
W. D. HUMPHREY
Sherbrooke, Quebec
Sirs:
I never considered myself an intellectual virgin until reading that "hump" is by some considered an obscene word. In what respect? . . .
KINGSLEY R. SMITH Attorney at Law
Weston, W. Va.
Readers Humphrey & Smith's contemporaries will not find their questions naïve. Once a fashionable word (about 1760) and used by boys behind the barn some 20 years ago, "hump" is seldom heard in a sexual sense today. In the magazine (For Men Only) that printed it (and was acquitted of obscenity by a New York City magistrate) the word was used as a noun meaning "prostitute": "I walked at night, asked every hump I passed if she knew a Louise."—ED.
Oshkosh Trucks
Sirs:
In the Feb. 28 issue of TIME you published an article entitled "The Drive." In connection with this article you published a footnote which reads as follows: "One competitor which did not last was the Oshkosh Four Wheel Drive Auto Co., founded by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich in 1919."
There was no such company as Oshkosh Four Wheel Drive Auto Co. organized in 1919, or any other time. We and our predecessor, Oshkosh Motor Truck Manufacturing Co. have manufactured continuously since 1917 four wheel drive trucks under the registered trade-mark Oshkosh, which trucks are known as the Oshkosh Four Wheel Drive Trucks. Oshkosh trucks are widely known throughout Wisconsin and other parts of the U. S. . . .
Immediately upon the publication of the footnote referred to above, we received numerous letters and telephone calls asking for an explanation. These inquiries are still being made. It is obvious that this footnote did damage to the name and reputation of the Oshkosh truck. Therefore, we ask that you make a suitable correction in TIME.
O. J. HARDY
President
Oshkosh Motor Truck, Inc.
Oshkosh, Wis.
TIME, having sadly erred, gladly makes correction.—ED.