Marilyn

Sir:

The tragic death of Marilyn Monroe, whether accidental or otherwise, emphasizes the potential danger of having sleeping pills within easy access of the bed.

In nearly a third of a century of practice, I have seen patients in a semi-stuporous condition after the first dose repeat it once or several times, with no self-destructive intent because they were not fully conscious.

It would be wise to keep these medications as far as possible from the sleeping quarters, preferably on another floor.

H. PAUL JOHNSON, M.D. Canon City, Colo.

Sir:

We here in Los Angeles heard the first announcement of the tragic death of Marilyn Monroe about midmorning on Sunday, Aug. 5.

As a subscriber to TIME, I receive each issue in the mail on Tuesday morning-this time on the morning of Aug. 7.

It seems incredible to me, as to others, that you could have included this item of news so quickly to be received by your readers all over the country in less than two days' time.

An explanation to your readers would be most interesting and informative.

FRANCES WAGNER Los Angeles

> TIME editors also heard the news Sunday morning, after the magazine had gone to press. Contributing Editor Barry Farrell was called in to write the obituary, and the press run was interrupted long enough to insert the article. More than 88% of TIME'S copies carried the news.-ED.

Sir:

Within hours after her death, Marilyn Monroe faced her Last Judgment at the hands of TIME magazine. In quick, merciless thrusts your writer depicted early guilt, perverted dreams, and a "kittenish romance." It advanced a "death long in coming," "self-doubt," and just plain "body."

Who asked this writer to play God? And such a God-who sees only the public image, only the sensational, only the body? Who dares to judge a human being, the person Marilyn? "Judge not that ye be not judged." The real Last Judgment may reveal a much wider responsibility for this death-it may even reveal you and me.

(THE REV.) MARTIN L. DEPPE

Mandell Methodist Church Chicago

Sir:

Back in 1956 TIME ran a cover picture of Marilyn Monroe. It didn't emphasize her curves; it was simply a portrait of her head. I and others too said then, "Truly, she is the most beautiful woman in the world."

Why don't you rerun that picture this week ? It was a lovely one.

RAY L. COMSTOCK Wheaton, Ill.

Sir:

Such venom, such malignity, such vindictiveness, such cold-blooded malevolence must, indeed, have curdled the blood of the author of "The Only Blonde in the World."

I read the article as this poor butterfly, broken on the wheel, was being placed in her grave and was outraged at such complete lack of common charity.

Better to have had the understanding of Thomas Hood, when he wrote:

One more Unfortunate

Weary of breath

Rashly importunate,

Gone to her death!

Take her up tenderly,

Lift her with care;

Fashioned so slenderly,

Young, and so fair!

(MRS.) ADA R. CORDER Salt Lake City

Sir: