other Science Fiction magazines, and I haven't missed a
single issue and don't intend to!

What prompted me to write this letter was an article, "A
Robot Chemist," published in your March, 1931, issue. In the
article it states that a mechanical robot performed several
experiments without human supervision. But, I am sorry to
say, I disagree. Nothing is automatic. Foolishly, after
perfecting anything that performs its work afterwards by
itself, man calls it an automaton. But it is not! Did he not
have to work and slave hour after hour, day after day and
month after month to perfect it? He did! Ever since man
became civilized he has deceived himself by calling, for
instance, machinery in a factory, automatons. The quest for
automatic machinery is as hopeless as the quest for
perpetual motion!

What is my idea of an automaton? Well, take a robot for
instance. Man calls it an automaton in spite of the fact
that he had to slave to put it together before it did its
work.

My idea is this: the iron ore would come out itself, smelt
itself, form itself in the various shapes and parts needed
to construct a robot, then take its correct place and rivet
itself. Then the radio brain, electrical eyes and magnet
hands take their place; and when it has constructed itself
it will conduct the experiments--if a chemical
robot--without human supervision. Thus, the latter clause
would be true! That's my conception of an automatic robot!
Otherwise, its just some metal doing the bidding of a
master's brain.

Another thing: the novelette "Beyond the Vanishing Point,"
by Ray Cummings, is preposterous. The flesh might shrink or
grow, but the bone would not! If one shrunk as did George
Randolph, one's bones would burst through the flesh.

But in spite of all that, I like the stories that way.
Science, in the years to come might discover how to shrink
or grow both flesh and bones. I guess I'm taking too much of
your time, so adios!--Jay Zee, Chicago, Illinois.

_Hot Times in the Fire-House_

Dear Editor:

The first Thursday in each month I make a bee-line for the
newsstand--and Astounding Stories. It may interest you to
know that I have every issue on file that you have put out.

There have been some mighty good yarns in those is