"Speak to Us"
Sirs:
I am enclosing herewith a letter which I have received from France. . . . The letter is unsigned for the obvious reason that the writer feared that it might fall into the hands of the Gestapo. . . .
Monsieur: This letter will reach you by one route or another, I hope. It is the letter of a woman of France, daughter of a schoolteacher, a schoolteacher herself and mother of a family of university students, students molded in one of the greatest institutions of France. Like so many others, she lives since June 17 in grief and indignation. . . .
The same men who could not or would not forestall anything, assume for themselves with loud drumbeats the honor of restoring France according to new formulas which they apply with the aid of our defeat. . . .
But let us pass on. To this shame is added that of daily hearing the voice of the radio deride the courage, loyalty and dignity of the English in the forefront of the battle, who cover themselves with glory by resisting alone, after so many betrayals. To the insults of wicked Frenchmen, the British answer with words of comfort, and with acts which rekindle the hope of the other French people of France, of the other French people who are much more numerous than one suspects--all those who listen to the broadcasts of the BBC as if near a wide open window where pure air enters.
We need to hear all these voices so warm, so confident, so familiar. English friends, Frenchmen in England or in the United States, speak to us, keep on speaking to us; we listen with fervor, often with the greatest emotion. Our confidence, our hope in you is enormous. No, France will not die. Help her, we beg you.
It is a woman with white hair who writes to you, one of those teachers who have taught in the villages "hidden in the folds of France" as well as in the fine cities of the plain. Here as there, within these whitewashed walls where the noble device of the Republic--Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite--imposes itself on the eyes of all as the glorious label of a regime, she teaches moral cleanliness, courage in action, respect for the given word, tolerance. . . . May those who wrought the last hours of our defeat be forever castigated in the history of our country.
Vive le General de Gaulle, ces officiers, ces soldats qui defendent la France dans le supreme honneur! Vive la France! Vive les bons Francais! Merci!
*The signature, omitted by request, is that of a distinguished scientist in a distinguished university.--ED.
Soldiers' Pay
Sirs:
From TIME, Sept. 30, p. 19: "U. S. military pay in World War I (base pay for privates: $30) was the envy of other armies. It still is." It wasn't and it isn't.
Base pay for privates in the Canadian Army in World War I was $1.10 per day, 10% higher than U. S. military pay. Base pay for privates in World War II is $1.30 per day, 30% higher than the increased pay of the U. S. private.
A. VICTOR EVANS
Calgary, Alberta
Sirs:
TIME, Sept. 30, p. 19, col. 3. U. S. military pay is not the highest.
In World War I the Australian Army pay for privates was $1.50 . . . corporals $2.50. ... In general 50% higher than U. S. Army pay.
M. MCDOWALL
(Formerly Australian Imperial Forces) Farmington, Mich.
>> Right are Readers McDowall & Evans. TIME should have said "envy of most other armies."--ED.
Papeese
Sirs:
Please explain your authority for the use of the word "papeese" as plural for the word papoose (TIME, Oct. 7).
MARGARET M. MARSHALL
Clarksdale, Miss.
>> Authority: Detroit sports writers, who share a proprietary right in the American language.--ED.
Wipe-Off
Sirs:
Louis Raemaekers' statement [TIME, Sept. 30] that it is impossible to wipe all the Germans off the face of the earth intrigues me. I keep turning it over in my mind. . . .
There will never be security for civilized peoples who wish to live in peace as long as one German can beget another German. Germans have preyed on civilized nations since their barbaric ancestors plunged the world into the first dark age by destroying the Roman culture and failing to substitute one of their own. . . .
Now I do not propose that we line up all Germans and shoot them down, though I think I could shoot my share of Germans, including German women, German children, German grandpas and German grandmas without any unduly unpleasant digestive aftereffects, albeit I am generally considered a mild, kindly woman. . . . But is there anything in the obligations of civilization to prevent sterilization of all Germans? . . And wouldn't that eventually wipe them off the face of the earth?
MRS. MARIE T. FOSTER Weir, Miss.
>> According to a Gallup poll last fortnight, more people (24%) in the South want to go to war with Germany than in any other part of the U. S.--ED.
Lush Enterprise
Sirs: In your Sept. 30 issue anent the Dr. Kildare pictures, you write, "Only the technical director--a young Hollywood doctor glad to make an extra $100 a week--failed to stick when movie publicity boomed his meagre practice after three films." Since this sentence concerns me, I hasten to make a few observations. ... In the two years, 1939 and 1938, when I devoted myself exclusively to the motion-picture industry, my annual gross incomes were $1,760.17 and $2,028.42 respectively. These sums represent the amount of money I was able to earn in this lush enterprise. . . .
Like many another doctor, I had noticed for a number of years the gross inaccuracies and scientific fallacies which appeared with alarming regularity in medical pictures. I resolved that given the chance, I would bend every effort through the powerfully suggestive medium of pictures to present illness and its treatment in as educative and accurate a manner as possible. . . .
Events finally convinced me of what had been a growing suspicion; namely, that whereas my interest was to enlighten the theatre-going public, the film industry's motive was consistently to appeal to the lowest common denominator of human intelligence so as to equally appeal to the greatest possible number of potential box-office patrons. . . . With such cross-purposes, it is little wonder that the industry and I parted ways. . . .
GILBERT LEE, M.D.
Mar Vista, Calif.
Young and Vigorous
Sirs:
I note from your report (TIME, Sept. 30) on the 1940 census that you attribute New Mexico's growth to "discouraged Okies, who could get no farther, had bogged down" in New Mexico. . . .
We in New Mexico would appreciate that the facts be set forth.
New Mexico attracts many thousands of residents of Oklahoma but mostly they are people who come to the cool mountain regions to enjoy New Mexico's climate, hunting and fishing, and scenic areas. Many who first came as tourists have returned as permanent residents. ..."
Other factors responsible for population growth include development of the great southeastern New Mexico oil fields, the potash mines, and other mineral development. Permanent residents have come to New Mexico as health seekers, to retire, to establish new businesses in fast-growing communities.
Nobody "bogs down" in New Mexico. Despite its background of 400 years of history since the first explorations by white men, New Mexico is young and vigorous. By 1950 it will move into first place in rate of population growth.
JOHN E. MILES Governor
State of New Mexico Santa Fe, N. Mex.
Sirs:
. . . RECENTLY BOGGED DOWN: CYRUS MCCORMICK, JOHN J. RASKOB, PAT HURLEY, GEORGIA O'KEEFFE, MARGARET SULLAVAN, DIXIE DAVIS, BETTY RIGGS.
ROBERT J. NORDHAUS
Albuquerque, N. Mex.
>> TIME salutes young and vigorous New Mexico. Wherever its new population comes from, it thrives as a community--its bank deposits, postal receipts, retail sales, gasoline taxes, car purchases, telephone installations, building permits ($2,689,000 last year in Albuquerque alone) are booming.--ED.
No Secrets
Sirs:
I took the Aug. 19 copy of TIME with me into an air-raid shelter, to read during the raid. Have you enough imagination to know what I and my friends felt, upon reading your piece about "Britain's Vulnerable Midlands," and seeing the accompanying map? That, and your piece about the war in British Somaliland, should tell your German friends practically all they want to know about us, their enemy. . . .
MARGERIE SCOTT London
>> The German High Command is a specialist in such information. TIME told no secrets which Britain's enemy did not know long ago.--ED.
Surprise
Sirs:
"To the University of Kansas City goes Spaniard Luis Quintanilla ... to start the first university school of fresco painting in the U. S." (TIME, Sept. 23).
This is a surprise to art students at Louisiana State University, where classes in fresco painting have been going on for five years. These classes are under the able direction of Conrad Albrizio, whose frescos adorn several public buildings in Louisiana and who has executed two frescos in Louisiana and Alabama post offices on commission from the U. S. Section of Fine Arts. . . .
RICHARD DRANEY EMILY WILSON KEN ERVIN HOWARD MITCHAM ANNE WOOLFOLK
College of Arts and Sciences Louisiana State University University, La.
"No First Term" Sirs:
WIRING DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO USE AUTOMOBILE WINDOW STICKERS READING NO FIRST TERM.
FLOYD WIEDEMANN (NOT FRITZ) Pasadena, Calif.
Sirs:
... I always thought TIME was impartial, but after the blast you gave Willkie some time ago, I am personally through with TIME.
GEORGE E. BUZZA Los Angeles, Calif.
Sirs:
... It is my opinion that TIME has been as enthusiastic about Wendell Willkie as any non-partisan magazine could be. . . .
JANIE JOHNSTON Newton, Kans.
Sirs:
... I am . . . writing that [my] subscription be canceled. My reason for taking this action is your apparent endorsement of the New Deal. . . .
C. H. BROWN
Oakland, Calif.
Sirs:
. . . Will TIME maintain, for example, that it is simply partisanship on the reader's own part which reads into the "Presidency" column a consistent thread of sly cynicism, imputing an oiled, opportunistic hypocrisy to President Roosevelt's every act and statement? Whereas Mr. Willkie is categorically declared to be "honest," and is invariably presented in the colors of a plain blunt man (with some few endearing foibles to be sure) yet withal a disinterested, liberal patriot. . . .
CYRIL HUME
Hollywood, Calif.
Sirs:
I wish to congratulate TIME upon its presentation of the Presidential campaign. No magazine could be fairer or more impartial.
CHARLES J. WIRLS
Lakewood, Ohio
Wenches, Werewolves, Workers
Sirs:
Wenches with warts want Willkie. Wampum wardens won't wager Willkie will win. Wealthy werewolves whine, wheedle whimsical, wily words. Winsome Willkie's worried wretches watch wonderingly while Wendell's wide wagon wabbles, wavers, wriggles weakly, weirdly wrecks. Willkie's wailing, wild words won't worry worthy workers, wives, widows, workless. Whooping windbag, Willkie wallops will-o'-wisps. Workingmen want work. Wayfarers, watchmen: warn wireless "Willkie won't win!" . .
TRAVIS K. HEDRICK Managing Editor The Hosiery Worker Philadelphia, Pa.
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