Letters, Nov. 7, 1932

(2 of 4)

In your interesting article (Oct. 24) describing Xavier University, first U. S. Negro Catholic college, New Orleans, appears the statement: "Many a white Southern college would look shabby beside Xavier, with its solid copper gutters, chromium equipment in the laboratory . . ." etc., etc.

No doubt many of your Southern readers will resent this implication that "Southern white" colleges are not comparable physically to other U. S. colleges. Having visited the majority of the colleges and universities in 42 States, including every college and university in the South, I would rank the appearance, if not the cost, of Southern white colleges against those of other sections of the U. S. Duke University, Durham, N. C., for instance, has the finest single college quadrangle in the world. Rollins College, Winter Park, Fla., certainly, is as beautiful as any in the U. S. The architecture of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Va., surpasses any in the country; likewise the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, is comparable to any. The Universities of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia have buildings and grounds which could scarcely be finer in cultural and historic atmosphere. The College of Charleston (S. C.) is without a peer among city colleges. My own alma mater, the University of the South (the Oxford of America) at Sewanee, Tenn., with its 10,000-acre campus, the largest in the U. S.. yet one of the smallest colleges (30 men), with its Magdalen College Tower and other Gothic buildings, can be ranked with Yale's Harkness Tower. The younger Southern colleges such as Florida. Tennessee, Kentucky, are not behind others of their age in modern and adequate buildings, equipment, etc.

CHARLES EDWARD THOMAS

Indianapolis, Ind.

Aristocratic Tongue

Sirs:

"Certain weird sounds issuing from the rostrum of the Assembly of the League of Nations last week were only President Eamon de Valera opening the session with these words in Gaelic: . . ."—from TIME, Oct. 10. B'fhéidir go mba chliste dhuit an méid seo thuas a scriobhadh agus b'fhéidir narbh é. Pé scéal é ni fhuil ann acht tuairim TIME agus ar ndóigh ni thigeann TIME teanga uasal na hEireann.

H. DOYLS

Norwich, Conn.

Translation: "Perhaps you thought it clever to write such a remark, or perhaps not. However, it is only TIME'S opinion, and it is certain that TIME does not understand the aristocratic tongue of Erin." —ED.

Chicago Charrette

Sirs: Every one who attended, or had first-hand knowledge of the Latin Quarter Fête given by the Architects of Chicago, was disappointed in your article "Fête Charrette" (TIME, Oct. 10). To do something creatively important enough to receive TIME'S interest is an honor. To do something important, to receive the interest of TIME'S correspondent, to give him all the facts and then to have only the facetious angle presented by the editors, is disappointing.