Letters, Feb. 12, 1934

(2 of 4)

How does such a jumbled and even pornographic idea as Joyce incurred from his unfortunate rearing represent the present life of people who are used to a degree of decency; used to normal temptations, struggle and a very perceptible victory; used to a decidedly pure life?

One cannot well say that Ulysses teaches life. I fear the comment quoted from your review was one that was based on the current creed of critics. Their rule of thumb for determining what is significant and what is insignificant is this: If it is not adultery, it is not literature.

As a maxim of criticism, this is like the virtue of Mrs. Bloom easy, too easy. It seems to me that the most one can say for Ulysses is that, as an experiment in the use of language, it is strong stuff. But it will hardly teach us life, except for a very crippled and segregated aspect.

WILLIS THOMPSON Hilton Village, Va.

Sirs:

Thanks and appreciation referring to the excellent piece on James Joyce and Ulysses in the issue of Jan 29. TIME always has treated Mr. Joyce in a dignified manner, another proof of the intelligence of your editorship. This is a great honor for you to lay up for the future, for Joyce is the greatest writer of our time and one of the very foremost artists in the recorded history of Western civilization.

Only one detected point of question: as to the physical size of Joyce's chirography ("to scrawl his own writing hugely" . . .), where did your excellent critic get the idea that Joyce writes "hugely"? I have two specimens of his handwriting and both are small, thin, fragile. Far from being scrawling, too.

Your book critic deserves a reward for one of the best pieces of the year and one of the best short pieces ever written on Joyce and his Ulysses.

H. K. CROESSMANN Duquoin, Ill.

Author Joyce's handwriting, normally small, varies to enormous size according to his inconstant eyesight.—ED.

Sex Changed

Sirs:

Just found my mislaid copy of TIME Nov. 20 where in the middle of 3rd column p. 12 you refer to my cousin Pierce Francis Connelly the sculptor as a woman, Frances Pierce Connelly. Frank has passed on so won't care but it is hard luck to have one's sex changed even post- mortem. . . . I was sorry to see that — —* James Joyce get so much space for his ordure pile. HENRY CONNELLY SHURTLEFF, M.D.

Philadelphia, Pa. — *Libel deleted.

Forensic Adventure

Sirs:

Despite the obstruction and discouraging prospect for the notice of the women in the gallery created by your description that leaves me a doddering ancient, indicating no compensations to the women in past procedure and no hope of any to myself in the future, I must express my thanks and appreciation for the generous spirit you all show in reporting my capacities and their application from time to time in the discharge of Senatorial forensic adventure (TIME, Jan. 29).

... I am bold to suggest to all of you to feel free to command me from time to time in something that may be of avail in your news work for something in governmental agency where I can make some slight return in the spirit of the big, broad, magnanimous kindnesses your frequent references indicate to the more substantial feature of life than the little persiflage naturally and justifiably indulged in.