LETTERS
271
FROM THE STEEL COUNTRY
Sirs:
pARTISAN REVIEW is a rare necessitJ
at a time when the field is so barren of
any thought whatsoever.
It
is particu–
larly interesting for the ironical contrast
presented between the height of thought
existing in the intellectual world of the
Big City and the dregs of thought to be
found (for only one example) in this
steel country.
On the whole I have praise for the
magazine. But may I add a word of
criticism on the short stories. The short
stories have the peculiar tang of the
isolated Big City knower-ails who look
down with a sympathetic cynicism on the
provincial world outside.
It
is late to comment on the ques–
tionaire conducted but I should like to
bring attention to two things which
seemed to me to be important. First, the
tiny insignificant percent of readers that
are from the "mass." To an extent a
culture can be judged by its weakest link.
• The strength of pARTISAN REVIEW in its
struggle to preserve present cultural val–
ues and its desire to attain ideal cultural
values can, too, be judged by this weak·
est link. Second, the geographical loca–
tion of the readers, that the readers are
concentrated in the Big City area.
On the side--I'm 24 years of age, a
steel worker, working in one of the larg·
est ammunitions dumps in the country.
ALEXANDER LANG
McKEESPORT, PA.
DANGEROUS THOUGHTS
In its December, 1941, issue
Readers
Digest
printed an article by Max Eastman
called "Stalin's American Power." Free
reprints were offered, and a large number
given out. Early in February, 1942, dis–
tribution was discontinued, and this let·
ter sent to all who wrote in for the article:
Dear Reader:
This is to inform you that we have
decided not to distribute the reprint of
the article, "Stalin's American Power."
Our decision is prompted by protests
which we have received from some of
our readers against any unnecessary
post-publication circulation of the arti·
cle now that our own war effort is so
closely connected with that of the Rus–
sian people.
While those of our readers who are
concerned about the effect on our own
war morale seem to us to have over·
looked completely the author's express
statement that '"common sense demands
that we support" the Russian resistance
to Hitler, we nevertheless feel that all
doubts should be resolved against any–
thing that might operate to disturb our
essential war effort.
Very truly yours,
THE EDITORS
LEITER FROM MEXICO
Sirs:
We want to thank PARTISAN REVIEW
most warmly for publishing the letter to
President Camacho of Mexico, signed by
more than two- hundred American intel–
lectuals and trade unionists, protesting
against the campaign of slander and
threats launched against us by the Com· ,
munist Party of Mexico. The letter was
immensely helpful, and has forced our
persecutors-for the moment, at least-to
abandon their attacks.
Though the readers of P.\RTISAN RE–
VIEW are probably acquainted with the
general nature of our writings and our
politics, it may be useful to note here the
