Matthiessen and Politics

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

Somehow, even while recognizing the death of Professor Matthiessen as a discrete and terrible personal tragedy beyond my understanding, I cannot conclude that it had nothing to do with politics. In his last note one finds that same discouragement that is sometimes felt by all of us who are still trying to preserve peace and democracy when we see the wealth, power, and prestige of those opposed to us. And I think Harvard has lost more than a great scholar and teacher. It has lost a man whose kindness, sensitivity, and courage made him a powerful advocate of cooperation and justice between the people of the world. Chandler Davis 4G