Blessed
Perky, Father & Son
Sirs:
The enclosed letter is written in the hope that you will publish it. Henry D. Perky was my father, and I have long resented the ill-considered way in which his good name has been used. . . .
I was twelve when shredded wheat was born, and worked and played in father's laboratory. I grew up under the influence of his enthusiasms, worked in every department of his factory, made some inventions of my own, and in 1920 invented Muffets. Now I am, myself, conservatively but with great hopes, introducing what I consider the first new departure since my father's in the line of popular ''cereals."
SCOTT H. PERKY
President, Toasticks, Inc. Batavia, N. Y.
The other letter of Son Perky follows:
In your issue of Dec. 24 is a notice of the absorption of the Shredded Wheat Co. by the National Biscuit Co. which gives considerable space to the story of Henry D. Perky's invention of shredded wheat. From first to last this story shows almost no regard for the facts. Since it is the story which has with small variations been used as advertising for many years, I want to suggest what poor copy these careless fabrications make as compared with the true story.
Henry D. Perky was not a "dyspeptic lawyer." His invention of shredded wheat occurred about fifteen years after he left the practice of law. He did not "peddle his biscuits in baskets" (bumptious bunk!) either in Nebraska, which he left about 1879, or in Denver, where, in 1893, he was, as always, dignified and rather magnificent. If those who have been trying to make his story sell biscuits had first taken the obvious step of looking up the history of this one of our most characteristically vital Americans, they could have undoubtedly made valuable copy and sold more biscuits.
The circumstance which led to the invention of shredded wheat was the burning of the Steel Car Company's shops in St. Joseph, Mo. By building steel passenger and freight cars away back in the 'eighties, Henry D. Perky felt that he was doing a great public service; just as years afterwards he believed in his biscuits as a religion and, in Conquistador spirit, persuaded the people of New England to eat them, as it were at the sword's point, sharpened by a scorn that startled these good people into submission. . . .
When the fire swept the Steel Car plant, twisting the rails of its three parallel tracks, gutting the beautiful "City of St. Joseph," melting its window panes to puddles but leaving its huge cylindrical body an eloquent testimonial to the man who first tried with all his might to realize the life-saving possibilities of steel cars, that man still fought on, though in failing health; but he had hardly given up the hope of rebuilding his plant before a little French doctor, who had attended his wife in New England, recommended a diet of thoroughly cooked whole wheat. In chewing, the bran of the wheat held together while the starch was squeezed out, and Mr. Perky argued that such an excellent food should be made more palatable. That reasoning was the direct cause of shredded wheat.
In 1880 this so-called dyspeptic lawyer conceived and built the Denver Circle Railroad; in 1882 he originated the Mining and Industrial Exposition, which ''Jerry" Rusk came from Washington to see and to praise; in 1886 the Pacific & Great Eastern R. R., his transcontinental dream, stopped short in the Ozarks, and was called locally, "Perky's Great Expectations"; and in 1889 the New Era Exposition at St. Joseph, which added much to the prestige and the wealth of that city, was the result of his constructive ardor. . . .
The true story of Henry D. Perky, which could fill a fascinating volume, has indeed great advertising value. SCOTT H. PERKY Caption
Sirs:
It is suggested that an accurately descriptive caption for your editorial pages would be A MULTILATERAL CLICKETY-CLACKING.
HENRY S. BARTHOLOMEW
Lansing, Mich.
Blessed
Sirs:
This merely to second the motion of Carrie W. Fisher, Punxsutawney, Pa., on page 2 of the current number of TIME. I can not for the life of me see how TIME could be improved. . . .
No matter how pressed for time I am, TIME is always read. It always has the preference, the right-of-way on my reading table.
TIME reminds me of the Irishman, blessed with a large family of exceptionally fine boys and girls, who, when asked what he would take for one of them, replied: "I would not take $1,000,000, nor would I give 10 cents for another."
F. A. R. VAN METER Editor
New Richmond News, New Richmond, Wis.
Angelic Realism
Sirs:
I am in receipt of the Dec. 17 number of TIME with its picture of the Christ of the Andes on the cover.
TIME evidently reads the King James version of the Scriptures. The people who erected this statue, benighted as it may seem, have never heard of the King James Authorized version of the Bible. . . .
According to the Catholic version of the Gospel, the angels when they delivered their message to the Shepherds, did not indulge in meaningless sentimentality. One would certainly expect realism from an angel. The message was not "Peace on earth, good will to men," as so many honest Anglo-Saxons muddle-headedly imagine, but "Peace on earth to men of good will," which is excellent common sense.
Let me refer you to the Douai translation of the Bible, or, if you prefer, the Revised Protestant version.
I am sorry to knock the point from your pleasant little phrase about continents.
Believing TIME to be edited by "men of good will," I am sure this word of comment will be well taken.
ANNA DILL GAMBLE
York, Pa.
Byrd Praised
Sirs:
E. G. Moore's Byrd-Flayed letter hurts. Chiefly because it is written on misinformation and misconception.
Also because blame for Byrd's ballyhoo is less Byrd's than, for instance, mine who helped sell his writings.
Horn-tooters, pan-beaters could no more be restrained by Byrd than ticker-tape throwers by Lindbergh. Byrd ignored invitations to much bigger and better ballyhoos.
Byrd is modest, Byrd is an officer, a gentleman, a sportsman in the best American sense. Byrd is not a personal friend of mine but I know the intimate, unwritten record of his two great flights. I know what messmates, shipmates, skymates think of Byrd. I have read the citations for his score of medals awarded for personal bravery.
E. G. Moore doesn't know. If he did he wouldn't flay.
As to writings of hardships and buying of phonographs, it takes money to organize scientifically an expedition. . . .
If Byrd doesn't come back broke I'll eat my hat and if his doesn't still fit him I'll eat it. CURRENT NEWS FEATURES, Inc. H. R. BAUKHAGE
Washington, D. C.
Alfalfa Dust
Sirs:
In reference to the controversy over Governor Hunt of Arizona going on in TIME, I want to say that Hunt is all right and your correspondent, Harry L. Davisson of Berkeley, Calif., is all "wet." He writes like he has a grouch against Arizona's Grand Old Man. Davisson is picayunish when he picks on the good governor complaining that Hunt picked his nose once. . . . Gov. Hunt is troubled with a slight nasal catarrh and it causes a tickling in his nasal passages. He has the habit of rubbing his nose once in a while slightly with his hand or grasping it between his thumb and forefinger and this action could easily be mistaken for picking by a careless observer. But even at that every great man has personal idiosyncracies. . . .
Ask the Arizona State Federation of Labor where Gov. Hunt stands in his dealings with Labor. Can Davisson state ONE instance of proved misuse of funds or dishonesty on the part of Hunt? It is true a number of the "rat" papers of the State owned by the big mining trusts tried to hamstring the governor because he made them obey the mining laws protecting the safety of the miners.
The trouble with Davisson is that his brain is full of alfalfa dust.
MALCOLM M. YOUNG
P. S. I was not on Hunt's election committee and I never asked the governor for a job. Did Davisson?
Washington, D. C.
Sugarloaf, Hunchback
Sirs: I didn't think that TIME ever took anything for granted but how else to explain the statement in your account (Dec. 31) of Hoover's recent visit to Rio that "Motors carried the visitors up to Hunchback and Sugarloaf Mountains." As you will see from the enclosed picture of Sugarloaf, none but a human fly could reach the top of that granite mass except he journey in the little cage-like box, also shown, which jerkily swings and sways across the chasm on steel cables--and the more I think of the risk involved, the more I am inclined to doubt that Hoover (superman though he be) went up Sugarloaf at all, in any fashion. As for the trip to Hunchback Mountain, that is equally impossible of accomplishment in a motor car, though it may have been made on the little cogwheel road which winds its tortuous way to the top. . . . JAMES L. TAYLOR
San Francisco, Calif.
Winnetka's Dawes
Sirs:
As one who is proud to subscribe himself as "A Constant Reader" of TIME I have noted that in your issue of Dec. 17 in the article regarding the new issue of stock of the Jenkins Television Corporation you list as one of the directors of this corporation the Vice President, Charles G. Dawes.
This is an error as the Vice President has no financial interest whatever in this corporation.
E. Ross BARTLEY
Secretary to the Vice President The Vice President's Chamber, Washington, D. C.
The televisionary Dawes is not Charles
G. of Evanston, Ill., but Charles C. of Winnetka, Ill.
Illegitimate Questions
Republique Francaise
Ministere
Des Travaux Publics
Office Francais
Du
Tourisme New York
Sirs:
In your issue of Nov. 12, page 18 in the
last two paragraphs of "Palm to Palm,'' under "France," you administer a gentle rebuke to this office for the wording of its announcement that "Any legitimate question . . . sent . . . in good faith . . . will receive . . . reply."
While it was not worded as well as it might have been, that announcement meant just that . . . Certain questions might be asked which would not be legitimate. For instance, "Where is this or that bordello located? Where can absinthe be obtained? How can I get some of those photographs I've heard so much about?" These would all be illegitimate questions, although possibly asked in good faith.
Even so maybe such questions should be replied to. Let us tell your readers that "The French Government's Office du Tourisme, at 4 East 52nd Street, Manhattan, will answer any questions regarding travel in France." Illegitimate questions, or legitimate questions asked in bad faith, will receive the sort of answers they deserve.
CLAYLAND TILDEN MORGAN
Director New York City
Has Monkey, Never Fubbed
Sirs: Will you permit me to comment on an article in the Jan. 7 issue of TIME under Medicine, namely: Monkey-&-Man Serum? Since the beginning of the world there have been men desirous of Fame; men that have used human beings as well as helpless animals as stepping stones under the name of one thing or another and Harvard's Aycock comes forth in his flare of would-be glory and "sticks monkeys to save babies'' and calls it Science. My father is a doctor and I have had some experience in hospital work; we have also had a very severe case of infantile paralysis in our family, which with correct treatment, the patient recovered and I may say not one animal was sacrificed in the recovery. Thousands of dollars are spent in this laboratory work, many animals have been tortured and I would like to know just what progress science has made where monkeys, guinea pigs, etc., have been sacrificed. I have had monkeys as pets, in fact, have one at the present time and may add never handled one with gloves or "fubbed" his face away. Why publish Harvard's Aycock picture? The monkeys should have had the valuable space-- for it is they, after all, that are doing the suffering and giving their life--not Dr. Aycock. VIVIAN HORNE Norristown, Pa. End of Jerry
Sirs:
... It seems to me that TIME, which delightfully exploits the curious, might have mentioned the death of Jerry, the Judas-like ram of the Chicago stockyards who led millions of sheep to death.
O. K. BINYON Brookline, Mass.
TIME regrets its disrespect to Jerry, whose passing was noted in the Boston Globe. Ten years ago Joe Horan, chief buyer of Armour & Co., saw and admired youthful Jerry, appointed him assistant executioner in the stockyards. During ten years Jerry led the macabre processions of sheep and lambs to the slaughter house. Seven million innocents followed him. None of them returned. All became lamb and mutton chops. Deceptive Jerry was pampered, lived in idle ease. He died of old age after a succes d'estime.--ED.