discussion
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wonders of our world; and, incidentally, her charm-
ing and ahead-of-her-times remarks about marriage.
— Helen Slayton-Hughes | Los AngelesThe Lady With the Lamp
“Thou Shalt Not Underestimate Florence Nightin-
gale” (March 2020) delivers a balanced view of the
controversies over her reputation. In an 1890 audio
recording, made on an Edison paraffi n wax cylinder
(fi nd it on YouTube, among other places), Nightin-
gale says, “When I am no longer even a memory—
just a name, I hope my voice may perpetuate the
great work of my life. God bless my dear old com-
rades of Balaklava and bring them safe to shore.” Lis-
tening to her voice today touches the heart.
— Frank Felsenstein | Morristown, New JerseyNightingale has been, and will continue to be, in-
spiration to nurses everywhere. No matter what de-
tractors or political revisionists may say, this woman
selfl essly led us to rethink medicine, hygiene and
evidence-based practice. Her infl uence is still felt
worldwide by nurses like me.
— Michelle Humphreys | Cedar Rapids, IowaSkunk Bear Fan Club
We may think of the wolverine (“Beasts of the Northern
Wild,” March 2020) as a nasty critter, but it’s a survivo r
among giants. No wonder many high school and college
sports teams have adopted the animal as a mascot.
— J. Cunningham | Hatboro, PennsylvaniaBeauty Business
It is inspiring to read about Madame C.J. Walker
(“Growth Industry,” March 2020), who started her own
business 100 years ago and achieved success. Why ha-
ven’t we heard more about this wonderful woman?
— Judy Hinckley | Salt Lake City, Utah“She has been, and will
continue to be, inspiration
to nurses every where.”
Natural Leader
Gene Stratton-Porter is another pioneering woman
almost lost to history (“The Legend of Limberlost,”
March 2020). She used her wealth and privilege to
break barriers and blaze a trail for women in the arts,
and her conservation eff orts are still bearing fruit.
What a remarkable life in an era when women were
still underestimated.
— Sarah McPherson | Glennville, Georgia
Kathryn Aalto’s story makes this pioneering nat-
uralist, and the environment she cherished, come
vividly to life. In her novel A Girl of the Limberlost,
Stratton-Porter gave us Elnora, an ideal model for
the wonderful teenagers of today who are fi ghting so
hard to protect our environment. As it happens, I’ve
been writing a musical based on the book. So much
of Stratton-Porter’s work connects with current is-
sues: her prescience in linking climate change to
deforestation; her fi erce attitude toward the human
greed that now, as then, seeks to destroy the natural
Correction: In March’s Ask Smithsonian, we incorrectly
referred to the six-foot-long arthropleurids, the so-
called “prehistoric millipedes,” as insects. In fact, extinct
arthropleurids and modern millipedes are classifi ed as
myriapods. Both myriapods and insects are subgroups
of arthropods.Send letters to [email protected] or to Letters, Smithsonian, MRC 513, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013.
Include a telephone number and address. Letters may be edited for clarity or space. Because of the high volume of
mail we receive, we cannot respond to all letters. Send queries about the Smithsonian Institution to [email protected] or to
OVS, Public Inquiry Mail Service, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013.CONTACT
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