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The derivation of "ham" as applied to "h'amateur" actors in your article on Charles Laughton differs from what I believe to be the correct one. The oldtime minstrels used to apply ham-fat to their faces so that their burnt-cork makeup would be easier to remove. They thus became known as "ham-fatters," the word eventually being shortened to "ham," and used to designate any broad, slapstick performances such as those of the minstrels. Now, of course, it simply means bad acting.
But whatever the derivation, if Mr. Laughton's performances in Don Juan in Hell are hamming, let us have more of it ...
ARTHUR ANDERSON
New York City
¶Such derivations are moot points. But H. L. Mencken in The American Language supports Reader Anderson's theory.—ED.
The Truman Record Sir:
I consider your April 7 tribute to Truman a very fair, unbiased tribute to a man you have so often poked fun at and criticized . . .
It is indeed refreshing to find that TIME can write a kind, unprejudiced evaluation of a man who tried hard, but who simply was not big enough for the job of presidency.
JANICE PECK PATTERSON
Dallas, Pa.
Sir:
In your April 7 editorial on the President's bowing-out speech, you said that Mr. Truman "did not develop the ability to look ahead, to avoid the crises, to build."
. . . Truman has planned ahead perhaps more than any previous President. This he did in foreign affairs, in domestic matters, and in his attempt to reorganize the Government.
What about his initiation of Point Four, NATO, and his support of the Schuman Plan? The Marshall Plan, which you designate as a "healthy Truman reflex" to an emergency, indicates more than a little ability to look ahead . . . The record shows that again & again Truman acted in the interests of the long-range welfare of his country even when it meant obvious political disadvantage to himself . . .
ERNEST LEFEVER
New York City
Sir:
Tweedledum is finally out of it—if we can rely on his Jefferson-Jackson Day speech. If Tweedledee only had enough foresight, he'd be out of it too.
My guess is that it will finally be Kefauver for the Democrats and Eisenhower for the Republicans.
BLAS A. GIBLER
Mexico City, Mexico
J'aime Eek
Sir:
Your March 31 article, "The Minnesota Explosion," is a fine piece of journalism and indeed very gratifying to read. So some of the Minnesotans can't spell Eisenhower correctly? Well, the Parisians don't pronounce it comme il faut. To them, he is "General Eek" and their leading man, too. A good thing for Senator Taft that he doesn't have to worry about support from this metropolis.
URSULA W. SIMA
Paris, France
Womanhood Disgraced?
Sir:
In regard to your March 31 Radio & TV article concerning "big, bosomy, blonde" Dagmar: Don't you think humanity is immoral enough without a national magazine publishing cute little items and sayings of this disgrace to womanhood? Would it be too difficult to replace such copy with something more advantageous to the reader, instead of giving the latest on a girl who has yet to learn the art of dressing properly.
PEGGY GABRINI