YOURS SINCERELY

MAPS: I know there are many readers in circumstances similar to my own: so I would like to make a suggestion. Why not send to each of your subscribers-or make one available-a really good map of Arizona? One that will show all the interesting mountains and valleys and cities and towns and rivers and canyons that we read about.

SUNSHINE TRAIL: A member of my family sends a year's subscription to a relative in Indianapolis, Indiana and the cycle of persons through whom each issue passes is quite interesting.

After being read by each member of the recipient's family it is given to his mother and father who live close-by. Then it goes to the family of two neighbors the second one being particularly interested in the articles and pictures of shrubs, trees and cacti. Then the magazine goes back to the mother and father who send it to a relative in Alexandria, Indiana, and it is finally passed on to the library where it is placed in the magazine rack for anyone to read who is interested.

In all probability a minimum of from thirty to forty people enjoy each issue and expectantly await next month's issue. I thought you would be interested in the journey of one copy each month as it leaves a splendid trail of Arizona sunshine.

FECHIN: Permit me to congratulate your choice of selection for the fine February issue featuring Nicolai Fechin, the artist and painter. Frank Waters is also to be commended for the wonderful story he wrote of Fechin's biography. He erred in understatement if anything, for not only is Fechin one of the greatest portrait painters of our time, he is also one of the greatest still-life, landscape, animal, and all-round genre painters of our time. No artist in this country or any other has exceeded his amazing color dynamic symmetry and the definite and ultimate achievement of his original purpose.

It has been my very great privilege to have seen many of Fechin's originals, for I was once a student of his. It was always a great source of inspiration to me and the few others privileged to study under him, to see the latest picture he had made.

Of all the artists I have met both here and abroad, Fechin does less talking about art than any of them. His humbleness is a lesson to the many self-styled geniuses who never tire of telling everyone how good they are. I meet them often.

Sidney J. Humphrey Ajo, Arizona When I received my ARIZONA HIGHWAYS today, and turning over the front cover I took one look at Faithful, and at once I said to myself: "For heaven sake, I sincerely hope that the ARIZONA HIGHWAYS has not gone crazy over that sort of painting called Impressionistic and then I took old Faithful and stood him up on a chair on my front porch and walked off about forty feet and took a look. What a difference! I could almost see him breathe. How many times have I seen Faithful when we lived in Arizona for about fifteen years.

That fellow Nicolai Fechin is a great painter. I take my hat off to him, and take back all I thought when I first looked at Faithful.

Think I shall frame old Faithful and hang him up in my study just to make me think of those happy days I have spent in your great state-Arizona. I did likewise to the other paintings of Mr. Fechin in your edition, and they all were as good as your inside cover.

Rev. S. A. Wright Mentone Community Church Mentone, California I am a "Sunday" western painter and cherish all the wonderful issues featuring western artists but the last one on Nicolai Fechin is your crowning glory. May there be many more.

Congratulations on your superb spread on Nicolai Fechin! The article was fine and the reproductions excellent.

He is truly a master of color and draughtsmanship. It was my good fortune to meet him last year in his Santa Monica studio and one of the things that struck me most was his modesty and friendliness. Not one to blow his own horn. I think this issue of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS has done him a great service.

APRIL'S MAGIC HAND

Sweet April with her trailing skirts of mist Is in the Valley, touching every tree; She stoops to keep her yearly, springtime tryst With purple bush, and then on bended knee She kisses gently all the lovely buds Who nod their thanks, with zephyr breeze caressed.

God's earth by April's hand is now a flood Of Beauty. From the east unto the west The flowers dance along each garden way, And so once more responds the earth's dead sod To life all radiant. Smiling skies once gray Look down while birds sing praises to our God. Oh ye whose soul is bruised with sorrow's thorns Look up, for spring brings resurrection morn.

CAROLYN WHEELER AVERY

OLD CLAIM

There's a pile of rocks On the mountain-side, Where hopes of a Midas Were born. . . and died. And an iron forge With its bellows dust, Near a heap of steel Long turned to rust. There's a cabin too In the vale below, Where ghosts commune When soft winds blow. Yet above it all Forge, cabin, and rocks, Hovers the pledge Of Pandora's Box.

DORIS SESSIONS LEE

MORNING

Day comes with a silver halo, Sunbeams on the lawn. Dewdrop sequins shine like new dimes From the mint of dawn.

THELMA IRELAND

THE WEB FOOT

When nature planned a guy like me With chassis smooth to swim the sea And undies oiled to shed the rain, She should have paused and thought again That someday I might leave the lakes To hunt my beans and johnny cakes In land that gets so all-fired hot That lakes are named because they're not.

And bridges there cross streams so dry The gentle breeze stirs alkali. My friend, the frog, with back so green Must keep it moist from his canteen.

But being smart, I use my head And count my blessings, as 'tis said. My enmeshed toes that swim so grand Keep me from sinking in the sand.

BARBARA P. ROBINSON

BACK COVER

"LA LOMA" AT LITCHFIELD PARK BY ALLEN C. REED. Known locally as "the hill," La Loma is a hump in an otherwise level stretch of desert. It supposedly resulted from a gas bubble when the earth's surface was developed at this point in the valley. The site of Paul Litchfield's private estate, it is heavily planted with a wide variety of shrubs and trees. This view is from the west edge of La Loma looking toward the White Tank Mts. and the Apprentice Farms at their base.

OPPOSITE PAGE

"THE WIGWAM" AT LITCHFIELD PARK BY ALLEN C. REED. One of the finest hotels in the Southwest, The Wigwam is noted for the dignified restful atmosphere of its attractive cottages in beautifully landscaped surroundings. The buildings are attractively styled with an Indian motif from their beamed ceilings and inverted Indian pottery chandeliers to their Indian rugged floors. Most popular pastime is golf at the Wigwam's eighteen-hole course.