Letters: Oct. 10, 1969

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Sir: It surprised me to find that the article "The Manhattan's Epic Voyage" [Sept. 26] failed to give credit to the first ship that completed the voyage through the Northwest Passage. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police auxiliary schooner St. Roch completed a west-to-east passage from Vancouver, B.C., more than 25 years ago. It also sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, on July 22, 1944, and made the voyage through the Northwest Passage, arriving in Vancouver, B.C., on Oct. 16, 1944.

I am a retired member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and have always appreciated giving credit where it is due. W.V.C. CHISHOLM Beverly Hills, Calif.

Sir: You state that the Canadian government is now being pressured into declaring the Northwest Passage Canadian territorial waters, indicating that only now, when there is the scent of money in the air, is it going to do it. Canadians have always considered these waters to be theirs and have no intention of being bullied by American "oil-tanker diplomacy" into giving them up, despite America's mistaken idea that it owns us.

LEO J. KEATING Guelph, Ont.

Avant-Garde Bagmen

Sir: My husband and I have just left Japan, and it behooves me to update you on behalf of the Japanese men, who probably are not even aware that they represent an avant-garde force of purse-carrying men [Sept. 26]. Rarely will you see a gentleman without his soft zippered black pouch bag with a handle, no doubt carrying personal accoutrements.

I've wondered for years how men have managed this long without them!

(MRS.) SYLVIA TERRELL Los Angeles

Sir: Intrigued by Mr. Capote's portable collection, I inventoried my non-Gucci, shoulder-strapless and exceedingly square, standard-brown-leather attache case. To wit: one tube of spot remover, one small tin of shoe polish, one pair of sunglasses, six packets of matches, one toothbrush (without toothpaste), three pencils (two broken), four ballpoint pens (two without ink), one loafer tassel, two unpaid bills, one checkbook, one pad of deposit slips, one address book, two note pads, one Chap Stick, one safety pin, six paper clips, nine rubber bands, one bottle of eye drops, one pen light, one railroad timetable, two personal letters, one road map, one adhesive bandage, one paperback book, one laundry ticket, some business papers.

Of course, you'd never catch me carrying a handbag.

WILLIAM MATHEWSON Manhattan

Sir: Once upon a time, when I was a young girl, we were taught about the three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter. At long last, I understand the purpose of the neuter. It's something on which to hang the over-the-shoulder bag.

(MRS.) CARRIE HANCOCK Willowdale, Ont.

On the House

Sir: Re your article "From Dream to Nightmare" [Sept. 26]: it is really too bad when, in this supposedly free country, some snob in a nondescript colonial house can tell someone what kind of house he can live in. This is a good example of how we treat everybody in the world who doesn't conform to our Wasp way of life. I sincerely hope that Mr. Eustice wins his appeal and succeeds in trying to be an individual.

SANDY LOMBARDI Minneapolis

Sir: Frankly, I think his house is beautiful. And if I lived in that atmosphere, I'd board up my windows, too.

KATHLEEN NUNES Albuquerque, N. Mex.