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I am not qualified to debate with Mr. Nabokov about Russian literature, but I do advocate that Dostoyevsky's writing has the wit to entertain, the insight to enlighten and the moral vision to transform lives. Unlike Nabokov, many readers find nothing banal in the works of this great artist.
Chuck Semonian Torrance, Calif.
Soviet Sub
I partly believe the Soviets' claim that their submarine was on a routine mission when it "accidentally" came into a restricted area on the coast of Sweden [Nov. 16]. For the U.S.S.R., perhaps it is routine to penetrate other countries' territorial waters. It must now be obvious that the Soviet talk about the Baltic as the "sea of peace" is nothing but empty words.
Per-Olof Knuts Osthammar, Sweden
Eh?
Your report on TV's Today's FBI [Nov. 9] refers to the agents learning "markspersonship." Please, give us a break.
John O'Hoski Toronto
Complaint
TIME carried a story about the Catawba Corp. [Nov. 16], founded by my father, William F. Buckley Sr. That story made several generalizations based on allegations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Director of Enforcement of the SEC has written individually to all the members of my family as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Your counsel have expressed to me their displeasure with the article in the Nov. 16 issue of TIME magazine. I am concerned with the impression left by the article that the Commission's complaint alleges that the Buckley family "defrauded stockholders to feather the family's nest."
Although the Commission's complaint alleges violations of Rule 10b-5(2) under the 1934 Act and Section 17 (a)(2) of the 1933 Act, it does not allege that the described transactions were "fraudulent." It is important that the results of the Commission's work not be misunderstood.
John M. Fedders, Director
John W. Buckley Lakeville, Conn.
TIME stands by its story in every detail including the quote: "In effect, it [the SEC] accused the companies of having defrauded stockholders to feather the family's nest." Mr. Fedders told TIME his letter was not intended to address the question of whether TIME's interpretation of the transactions was accurate.
How to Teach
In your article describing the conflicting theories of learning in the follow-up to the Head Start program [Nov. 9], you refer to children playing dress-up in first grade and making apple pies in second. When I was a pupil, these activities were saved for after school. We didn't burn out in front of the tube. Dressing-up and cooking are no trade for literacy.
JoAnne B. Smith Wheaton, Ill.