Letters, Dec. 12, 1955

Man of the Year

Sir:

May I, a Latin American, propose the President of the U.S. for Man of the Year?

BARBARA BURTON La Ceiba, Honduras

Sir:

He may not be infallible, but as the harassed mother of a lively one-year-old I want to nominate Dr. Spock.

CYNTHIA BAKETEL SYSTROM Fort Smith, Ark.

Sir:

The pen is mightier than the sword—that man of letters ("Dear Mamma") Harry S. Truman.

LOWELL WHITE Denver

Sir:

Nikita Khrushchev—he gave the free world a most surprising new image of a Soviet leader. If Russia's intentions haven't changed, at least they have a human being to amuse and entertain the West.

MARCEL FONTAINE Liége, Belgium

Sir:

Chief Justice Earl Warren (and he will go on to become the next President of the U.S.).

ROGER STANTON Detroit

Sir:

How about Woman of the Year? Princess Margaret—whose single decision stirred the civilized world.

LUCILLE VENEKLASEN Chicago

What to Eat Before Banquets

Sir:

In TIME, Nov. 28 there is a fine article about the opening of the Metropolitan Opera season and especially a revealing word picture of my husband and myself. I feel that the last paragraph of this article demands an explanation inasmuch as we are the grandparents of 15 wonderful children and far be it from me, and I am sure from TIME also, to give them false ideas as to the "naughtiness" of grandpa and grandma at the ripe ages of 75 and 55. So here is the story of the Amsterdam episode.

There was a large banquet that evening honoring Monteux's 75th birthday. Having had experience with banquets for some 50 years, the Maitre decided we had better have a four-course dinner before leaving, be prepared, as it were, for the inevitable fruit cup, tasteless mashed potatoes and chicken, topped off by the usual melted ice. So we ordered an iced melon, sole au vin blanc, new potatoes, endive braised, Edam cheese and toasted crackers, fresh strawberry ice, and Vienna coffee with whipped cream. This is why we were late, why I am on a diet and tea, tea, tea. Why Monteux would not hurry a fine dinner for any old banquet.

DORIS MONTEUX New York City

The President's Pronouns

Sir:

Please, when our President was just out of the hospital, couldn't someone have corrected his thanks for welcoming "Mrs. Eisenhower and 'I'"? What will some of these culturally snooty countries think of America's grammar! And on the first page of your National Affairs [Nov. 21] section.

ORA M. WILLIAMS Takoma Park, Md.

Sir:

How can us English teachers continue to fight the Battle of the Pronoun? Us are about to concede defeat on "it is me"—but it'll be a tough struggle before us accept "to welcome I."

BILLIE HALLBERG San Mateo, Calif.

The Controversialist

Sir: