Yours Sincerely

TO THE GIRLS: I have read that your A-1 Queens and PBSW Ramblers won their respective league's National Championships in Softball last year. Now I see where an Arizona girl has been chosen Miss America. Congratulations, indeed. S. M. Southworth Moline, Illinois

"LOCUST" NOT LOTUS: I note that there is an error in the common name of one of the flowers shown in my flower series in the January 1950 issue of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS. The name "Lotus" as shown for Robinia neomexicana should be "Locust" Robinia neomexicana. Because of the similarity of the two names, I can understand how the mistake occurred-Locust is a common name and would not show in the botanical index. Lotus is a genus of the same family (Pea Family). Locust is rather common and abundant in many parts of the State from 4,000 to 8,500 ft. The one shown in this series was photographed in the Bradshaw Mountains near Prescott. I would suggest to anyone interested in this subject, that they make a notation of this error beneath the picture in their magazine as a future reference.

W. G. (Bill) Bass Wickenburg, Arizona

AT OXFORD: I think you will be pleased to know that my daughter, who is studying Zoology at Oxford University, has her room decorated with the colored plates from ARIZONA HIGHWAYS. She hopes one day to travel to see these wonderful places, as I have done. Meanwhile, we would both welcome more pictures of your birds and smaller animals, as well as the flowers and trees which have such glorious colors.

Dr. Kathleen Lonsdale London, England

OLD MIX CHUGS RIGHT ALONG: We rode the Verde Mix that October day, three of us from Southern California. The article in the June issue of the ARIZONA HIGHWAYS had given us the essential information but left us unprepared for the beauties of the Verde gorge. No wonder that a group of over a hundred camera fans made the trip from California to see this canyon. Our trip had some extras thrown in. There was the big four unit freight diesel which performed for us while we ate our lunch at Drake. Then there was the stubborn cow which ran fornearly a mile down the track in front of the train. The echoes from the engine whistle rolled back and forth up and down the canyon. Luckily the cow left the track before she was chased into the tunnel. There are pre-historic ruins to prove that Arizona is an old land but in another sense it is also a young country. Some day there will be an inn blended into the beauties of the cliffs where people, battered by the rush of life can drink in the peace, strength and beauty of the Verde gorge.

Bevan W. Thomas Bell, California

CHARLES M. RUSSELL: Your November issue warmed my heart even more than usual. The article on Charles M. Russell and the reproductions of his paintings were outstanding. It might interest you to know that Mr. Russell presented me with a water-color painting when I was five years old. My father was an art dealer in Los Angeles who exhibited and sold Mr. Russell's paintings. The cowboy artist inscribed upon the painting, "To Jannette Kanst from C. M. Russell, 1922." It depicts three Indians, two mounted and the other standing beside his horse with arms upraised to the sunset. It is, perhaps, one of the few quiet views painted by Charlie Russell, for as Mr. Britzman wrote in his splendid article, "another outstanding characteristic of (Russell's) modeling and painting was the violent action he put into much of his work." Thank you especially for this November issue, and all the others which brighten our home and hearts each month.

Mrs. H. D. Mathewson Berkeley, Calif.

May I compliment you and your staff on the November issue of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS. We have long considered it the most beautiful magazine in our reference library. However, what inspired me to write was the article about Charles Russell and the painting in the center "The Last of 5000." Years ago, my brothers owned and published the Helena Independent in Helena, Montana, and I became familiar with Russell's paintings while spending my summers with them. His picture "Last Chance or Bust" hung on the wall in our home when I was much younger than I am now. But "Last of 5000" was the favorite of my brother, Will A. Campbell, and as long ago as I remember, he had a copy of it in his den. I have never seen it since. Thank you for remembering this artist who really brings the plains back to me and for the many other fine pictures which we have enjoyed since we subscribed to ARIZONA HIGHWAYS. Margaret C. Rasmussen Latin American Village El Monte, Calif.

MOGOLLON RIM I am the mighty Mogollon Rim So deeply creased by canyon So covered by entwined piñon Backbone of saddle and of bluff Bewildering trails rugged and rough. First to cuddle the breath of storm Or glimpse the sun at dawn First to be enchanted by the lightning Or hear the echo of the thunder's roar From Me, the pearly streams are born. Ralph A. Fisher, Sr.

BIRD BLOSSOMS A morning glory climbed the elm And nestled on its breast. It bloomed with azure trumpets there, Like blue birds on a nest. Thelma Ireland MIRAGE Blue distance Down a desert road Cool water Shady pool Weary traveler presses on To find oasis gone!

Katharine L. Bratton METEOR CRATER A meteor, hot from interstellar space, Flashed first into the atmosphere of earth. And then its tons of glowing metal girth Splashed down into the planet's solemn face, Throwing out in wide and circled waves Tumultuous rock, until inertia met The force and in a lasting circle set The startled stone (The cosmos misbehaves.) Transmuting force to motion then to heat Until beneath the starlet's mighty wrist The granite turned to dust, and powdered mist Flared crimson where the traveler cooled its feet; But years go by and now a worldly yawn Shows where a cosmic passion has withdrawn.

James D. Allison VANITY Arms extended, Ocotillo's Scarlet fingertips Paint with desert sunset Her Mona Lisa lips.

Freddie Phelps Hanson SCENE CHANGE Night closes On hot, golden sands Like curtains Gently drawn While the scene is changed to show A cool, silver dawn.

Berdena Baxter BACK COVER. "APACHE MOTHER" from a water color by Allan Houser. The artist, an Apache, is one of the promising young Indian artists who is gaining recognition for Indian art of the Southwest. He was recently awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to continue his art work. Houser depicts scenes from every day Apache life, as well as Indian ceremonies, in a realistic and dynamic manner, and with the use of strong and vivid colors. The Apaches as a tribe have been famed for exquisite bead work and for their remarkable baskets.

"CARL PLEASANT LAKE" BY ALLEN C. REED. Carl Pleasant Lake is formed by a dam located 35 miles by road north and west of Phoenix. Constructed in 1924 on the Agua Fria River, Carl Pleasant Lake, with a capacity of 179,000 acre feet, is a source of irrigation water for 35,000 acres of farm land southeast of the White Tank Mts. in the Litchfield Park area. Crown Graphic 4x5, Ektar lens, f16 at 1/5 second with pola pola screen filter. At present lake is closed to fishing because of little water.