19TH HOLE: The Readers Take Over
GREEKS AMONG THE IVY: TWILIGHT IN ATHENS
Sirs:
Last week a small group of us Greeks examined another papyrus delivered by a fleet-footed runner of the postal system. In it we found Volume 8, Number 5 of Games Illuminated. The resulting dialogue was recorded for posterity.
ANCIENT HELLENIC OLYMPIAN: How merciful the gods are to have called the immortal Perseus Haughtonos to the Elysian Fields! His eyes are spared the desecration of Athens' temple. To have exiled a preceptor of Athens for misguiding its youth! Jordanos, I weep for you.
YOUNG HELLENIC OLYMPIAN: Worthy and esteemed progenitor, judge not too hastily. It has been many years since the immortal Haughtonos practiced his great art on the green fields of Athens. Opening my heart to you even wider, there are not many of us now sitting at the feet of the Mother of Us All who can recall an even moderately victorious autumn.
A.H.O.: Victory, my valued young friend, goes to the youth of strong limbs. Young men of my day used their limbs to climb the hills and valleys without having recourse to chariots. They did not, as you and your young friends are wont to do, sprawl in darkened chambers in contemplation of a dancing, mouthing box.
Y.H.O.: Hold, hold, esteemed progenitor. The young players of the Games have exceeded in every sport the marks set by venerated Olympians of old, such as you, revered progenitor.
A.H.O.: Marks! Victories! Oh that Zeus with one bold thunderbolt would erase the puny scrolls on which the followers of games inscribe their inane notations! Oh that the gods would restore the pure and dauntless spirit of the lover of games!
Y.H.O.: Yes, revered progenitor. Yes, yes, of course. Allow me to agree and interrupt our discourse. My chariot from the provinces of Anglia needs attention and I must take it to the stables. Hail!
A.H.O.: Hail. I will send today a message to the editor of the Papyrus of Old Athenians for his next issue. High Priest Puseyos shall hear of my views!
Mrs. S. S. HOBBS
Concord, Mass.
NATURE: ETHNOS AND ETHOS
Sirs:
Mr. O'Reilly, in his Seal Haven (SI, Feb. 3), again reveals his penchant for communing with near-extinct animals. His masterful articles reveal a sensitive craftsman and a compassionate soul.
Therefore, may I suggest his next assignment in natural history be in the Aleutian Islands where he can espouse the cause of the Aleut and right a grievous wrong in verbal genocide. He unwittingly hastened to extinction an already almost extinct group of a once proud and happy race by the verbal slip "Aleut Indian."
The denizens of the Aleutian Islands are linguistically in the Eskimo family and ethnically distinct and unique. They are simply Aleuts.
PETER HAMILL, M.D.
Lexington, Ky.
•Thanks, it's in our future book.—ED.
Sirs:
This is to my knowledge one of the most informative and descriptive articles that I've ever read. This is writing at its best. Hats off to John O'Reilly.
EUGENE A. PETERSEN
Sioux City, Iowa.
•Hats off, too, to Photographer Dick Meek who furnished the pictures for O'Reilly's words.—ED.
FURTHER INFORMATION: SOARING
Sirs:
I became interested in sailplanes after reading some articles about them in past issues of your magazine.
Whom could I contact for further information about construction and flying of sailplanes?
D. R. McNEE
Riverside, Calif.
•The Soaring Society of America (Box 71, Elmira, N.Y.) is the U.S. governing body for this sport. Paul Schweizer, its president, recommends Flight Without Power ($3, from the society) and Soaring magazine as good beginner's reading. If Mr. McNee gets serious he can think of purchasing a glider kit (about $1,500) or a finished plane (up to $5,000).—ED.
FURTHER INFORMATION: BRIDGE
Sirs:
I should like to be the first of many, I am sure, to point out an inaccuracy in Charles Goren's column Those Fine Italian Hands (SI, Jan. 27).
In the dismal hand in which the American team failed to make three no trump while the Italians bid five diamonds and made six, Mr. Goren states: "Nine tricks could be made with a successful spade finesse...."
It must be obvious to all and sundry that if the spade finesse is taken, 10 tricks, not nine, will be made (five diamonds, one club and four spades, the 8 being good after East's two discards).
This would give the American team a score of 430 to the Italians' score of 420 for five diamonds bid and six made, for the chilliest old top score you are likely to see in a month of Sundays. Which all goes to prove once again the old axiom, "Most hands that will make five diamonds or clubs will make three no trump."
HARRY M. URIST
Los Angeles
•Mr. Urist's count of the possible tricks is unimpeachable. However, South correctly held up the ace of clubs until the third round, and discarded one spade from the dummy. In world championship team play, as in rubber bridge, making the contract is the important consideration. Mr. Urist's observation about playing hands at no trump is also true, but experts must recognize the exceptional case. North and South can make five diamonds regardless of the location of the spade queen and club length.—ED.
FURTHER INFORMATION: CREW
Sirs:
I am interested in obtaining an official ruling pertaining to eligibility on Intercollegiate Rowing Association crew teams. There have been several different answers given to my question.
I was here at the Naval Academy last year and started the 1957 crew season rowing freshman crew. However, I failed a course and did not finish out the season. I am now back at the Naval Academy repeating my freshman year and I would like to know if I am eligible to row freshman crew this year. I would also like to know if it is possible for a freshman to row varsity or junior varsity crew.
E. S. DVORNICK
Annapolis, Md.
•Mr. Clifford Goes, chairman of the Olympic Rowing Committee, says Mr. Dvornick is indeed eligible to compete in freshman rowing events at the Naval Academy, but, like any other freshman he is not eligible for varsity or junior varsity competition.—ED.
FURTHER INFORMATION: THE COUNTRY CLUB
Sirs:
Out Heath Street way in Brookline, Mass. stands what is known in our area as The Country Club. In the Jan. 27 TIP FROM THE TOP the golf pro from Cleveland was said to teach at The Country Club.
The Country Club of Brookline was so named on the basis that it was the first in existence. Under what assumption does that club in Cleveland jeopardize the title of The Country Club in Brookline?
PETER BAPTISTE
Kent, Conn.
•The Country Club (in Brookline) "takes pride in its undisputed claim to seniority in its field," being organized in 1882, although golf was not introduced until 1892, when a six-hole course was laid out. To paraphrase Mr. John P. Marquand, Cleveland, a city in the Midwest, may be reached from Brookline via Dedham.—ED.
FURTHER INFORMATION: SKEETERS
Sirs:
I was very interested in your article Hot Ice in the Cold Country (SI, Jan. 13). Would it be possible for you to let me know where one could get plans, specifications, parts, etc., for one of the iceboats pictured in the article?
P. B. TRIPP
Minneapolis
•Mr. Tripp might seek the help of Albert Sternkopf, Secretary-Treasurer of the International Skeeter Association, Pine Lake, Wis. Although most of the association's 200 members have built their own boats, there are no official plans. There are, however, certain class limitations: no more than 75 square feet of 9-to 10-ounce Dacron sail, mast and runner plank of Sitka spruce, plywood and fiber-glass hull, and runners of ten-ninety-five steel. Skeeters with sail and hardware run from $1,000 to over $2,000. Two boat builders in the Wisconsin-Illinois area are: Tom Krehl, Marine Motor Clinic, Madison; and Boe-Craft, 533 South McHenry Avenue, Crystal Lake, Ill.—ED.
GOLF: SPORTING LOOK
Sirs:
You might be interested in knowing that those golf pants with the "bellows" pockets my husband wore at the Crosby tournament (WONDERFUL WORLD, Jan. 27) are of his own design. He has been wearing this type golf slacks for six years, and I believe he has at least three pair at this writing.
LUCILLE EISENHOWER
Tacoma, Wash.
•All credit to Edgar for his fashion original, and let's not forget the famous innovation of his brother: the Eisenhower jacket.—ED.
PHOTO
IKE'S JACKET
PHOTO
EDGAR'S POCKET