en man had shed
His fur, his tail
And pointed ears."

And as a dissertation on our caveman ancestors:

"They fought for women as for food.
When 'Mays' awoke to warm desire;
And this the lust that changed to love
When fancy lent a purer fire."

Regarding the Franklin chapter, it is stated that "Wise Old
Ben" used to insert it between the pages of the Bible and
read it to his friends in the City of Brotherly Love, and
great was the consternation of many who thought they knew
the Scriptures from "cover to cover."

Any new readers of Science Fiction would be glad to read
"The Girl in the Golden Atom," "The Fire People" and "The
Man Who Mastered Time," by Ray Cummings. I like to read this
author's work, but I believe when he wrote this trilogy of
Matter, Space and Time that he reached the heights of his
writing. I have never read any subsequent writings of his
that I thought exceeded them.

Speaking of the necessity of authors eating, Mr. Lewis
states that good stories have never been written on an empty
stomach.

Edgar Allan Poe who wrote "Shades" was one of the most
brilliant of American writers, and his stomach was empty
most of the time. And when this master of ratiocination had
on rare occasions a full stomach it was invariably full of
"hooch."

As Mr. Lewis speaks as a pedagogue, is it not a
physiological fact that an empty stomach clears the mind by
diverting the blood stream from the necessity of digesting
food? And while I am not advocating any fast cures for
authors, some of them (although few in Astounding Stories)
would be greatly benefited by trying it.

In conclusion I should like to say to Mr. Lewis and others
who take the same slant on reprints, that there are many of
the finest writings in Science Fiction and the classics
which you and I have never even heard of, much less read.

I will close with best wishes for your continued
success--Joseph R. Barnes, Cache Junction, Utah.

_Now Feeling Better_

Dear Editor:

Well, I guess I've just about gotten you exasperated with
all the brickbats I've been cannoning into your office.
However, I believe this letter will make you feel a little
better.

The latest issue was fine. There wasn't