haven't received "Four from the Circle." The law as it exists must be respected and Mr. L. J. C., New York.

obeyed, and police must enforce these laws. EDITOR'S NOTE: Another copy of the book Working to change the law concoming cerhas been shipped.

REVIEW EDITOR: I read Norman Mailer's "White Negro" five times. He didn't say what "hipsters" like to do. What do hip sters like to do? Do they want rape and statutory rape legalized?—Mr. F. A. K., New York

REVIEW EDITOR: The REVIEW has given me a comfortable feeling. I feel we are all the children of God regardless of how we see our fellow men. Man has his rights but there are certain laws that have to be obeyed. The thought that comes to me often is that respect does not come cheap. Some of us have to deprive ourselves of the things we'd like in order to gain that respectability.—Mr. E. F. N., Maine REVIEW EDITOR: I have reviewed with great interest the 12 issues of 1959 and wish to offer one general comment: "Lead with the Cover!" Every periodical must use the cover to attract attention. This is done by use of color, of artistic drawings, photos

as well as headlines of articles in the cur rent issue. The most successful magazine is the one which focuses attention on the leading article for that issue. And that article should come first and not submerged by editorials or other less important material. From this point of view, good as they are, each issue could be improved, given the punch which would make the REVIEW a really distinguished magazine.—Mr. J. F. W., Ohio

REVIEW EDITOR: We are accustomed, I and friends, to take vacations in New York or Florida, but we would like to go to where the "boy-friendship" is better understood. Do you know a few countries less conform ist (or less moulded) and more open to caprice, and art? We are tired of the ugly visage of materialism and cops.—Mr. M. B.,

Canada

EDITOR'S NOTE: Laws in Scandinavia and some Western European countries (except England) are less severe regarding private association of homosexual adults than is the case in the U. S. and most other English-speaking nations. This is not to say that such associations are condoned, nor is it to imply that protection of the young is absent from the penal codes of those countries. And finally, we restate our policy in these matters: It is outside the Mat tachine purpose and function to introduce or guide anyone to any place where deve lopment of personal relationships is a goal.

tain forms of sexual behavior.is a stated Mattachine project, using qècepted processes of education. and dissemination of research findings. But this doesn't change the legality of any act presently proscribed by the law.

REVIEW EDITOR: With great pleasure I take time to express my feeling toward the wonderful work you and your staff are doing in trying to get people to understand that everyone is not alike. I have just finished January issue and look forward to February—Mr. J. L. A., California

REVIEW EDITOR: During the period of a year or so that I was able to visit San Fran. cisco more frequently, take part in some of the work at the office, join the Society as an active member, attend some meetings, contribute to the magazine, I felt belonged and that I was helping the fight. Though I have actually sent you more money than I had previously and have made another contribution of books, I don't know what is going on any more. I read REVIEW, the NEWSLETTER and INTERIM, but it is like reading the activities of the Republican National Committee. I can't do anything about it, so I couldn't care less. I know there are members and others who are in and out of your office often who have no more feeling of belonging than I do; and there are probably more who enjoy the comradeship from whom you have to pry the pay ment of dues. There are, I'm sure, a greater number like myself who could and would contribute more money if we got something for our money: not tangibles, but satisfac tion, participation. I've no idea that I have contributed anything new to your thinking. I am enclosing your "reading fee." Maybe you ought to make a charge for reading the opinions of all those who criticize without offering anything constructive.—Mr. D. G., California

REVIEW EDITOR: We of KPFA welcome the Award of Merit presented by the Mattachine Society for "outspoken and prova cative programs and commentary on controversial subjects," and particularly for the 2-hour program "The Homosexual in Our Society," broadcast on KPFA-FM, KPFKFM and WBAI-FM. Rest assured it is our intention to remain provocative and meanIngful in all areas of human concern. It is reassuring to know we are making sense to the specialized audience represented by the Mattachine Society.-Harold. Winkler, President, Pacifica Foundation, Berkeley.

mattachine REVIEW

REVIEW EDITOR: Many thanks for your letter and for the award you have presented to Grove Press. -Bamey Rosset, Publisher, Grove Press, New York.

REVIEW EDITOR: This is to convey our Committee's thanks to the Mattachine Soc iety for presenting us with an Award of Merit. As you must know well, tokens of appreciation are somewhat rare in this sort of work; and we are honoured and gratified to receive your award. We follow with great interest the progress of your work, which is In many ways closely parallel to our own. Our objective is of course limited to ef fecting a reform of the law, whereas you, as I understand It, are concemed with the whole field of the position of homosexuals In the community. But in the sphere of social education there is much that is common to both our aims; and it is encouraging to know that the problem is being tackled energetically in the United States. The Rev. A. Hallidie Smith, Secratary, The Homosexual Law Reform Society, London.

REVIEW EDITOR: It will certainly be sus prising if you don't get a huge stack of let ters about Howard Simpson's story, "A Day of Firsts," which appeared in January... Personally I wasn't too disturbed by it, however the matter came up for discus sion...and some objected (with) valid points. They maintain that if the REVIEW is to function by presenting the homosexual viewpoint to the public, such stories have no place in it. This may be true. Unfortunately, however, this story presents a situation which, with minor variations, occurs with alarming frequency in real life. I wonder if it would not have been better to preface the story with a little longer explanation than you did. It might have been pointed out that this is the sort of thing Mattachine is working to eliminate through Its program of social and legal acceptance of the homosexual. On the other hand there are those who would maintain that it is a reasonably good piece of realistic writing and as such deserves a place in the REVIEW. It would be unfortunate if someone were to pick it up for the first time and get the wrong Impression of the maga zine from this article. If nothing else, it did arouse some lively discussion (in our group).—Mr. R. L., Illinois

REVIEW EDITOR: I'm not going to say: 1) this contribution isn't much; 2) I wish It were more; 3) Perhaps next year---; 4) Keep up the good work; 5) You're doing a good job; 6) God Bless you. All of these things I'm sure you're tired of reading....

Incidentally, how did the law-sult come out? Mr. P. J., Texas

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for the contribu tion. The lawsuit was dropped because its psychological effect had been spent, It would have been almost impossible to win, and it would have Involved action which would serve no useful purpose to the ultimate advancement of Mattachine goals. Fact is that public opinion and other results of the "campaign blast" aided rather than damaged Mattachine. As one newspaper reporter put it, "No organization so small ever got so much free publicity." And here's a twist: Assessor Russell Wolden, the politician-officeholder who blasted the Society and San Francisco "deviates" in his unsuccessful campaign for mayor last fall will be the guest speaker of the San Francisco Area council of the Mattachine Society on April 1. That's no "April Fool" joke, either, although there'll probably be reference made to that. Mr. Wolden has leamed, we believe, that Mattachine performs a necessary and useful community function in its field, and warrants the ser lous attention the Society is striving to attain. For that he has our admiration. And besides, it's much, much better to have a spokesman as vociferous as Mr. Wolden was last fall as a friend, providing that he does agree that Mattachine aims are a benefit to humanity.

REVIEW EDITOR: Although I don't have an active part in Mattachine, I am still glad I can at least belong. By the way, Howard Simpson's "A Day of Firsts" (January) was a piece of powerful writing. Let's have some more of his. It was well done.—(Rev.) B., Calif.

REVIEW EDITOR: I congratulate you on on the good job you are doing with the Mattachine REVIEW under difficult circumstances. For this reason, it has been with some hesitancy that I have decided to address this communication to you, knowing that it is all too easy to criticize. But, as I do not like to see anything appearing in the "Review" which might reflect adversely on the Society, I feel impelled to offor one or two criticisms. The first has to do with that rather silly little story in the December issue, "When I Am With You" by Amell Larsen in which he is guilty of an egregious error in causing the priest to state "You have stolen my communion brandy." Doesn't Mr. Larsen know that there is no such thing as "communion brandy"? Wine is used in the Eucharist, not brandy. A little simple research would have enlight ened him on this point: Secondly, he ends