A Great Service
Editor: I really appreciated the article in the Jan. 15, 1995 edition of the Sun Magazine ["The Mattingly Mystery"] about the genetic nerve disorder in the Mattingly family. I think it is very helpful to learn about situations which affect Maryland people and it is very encouraging to know what is being done that may resolve [the] problems.
As an avid genealogist, I enjoy reading about genealogy, but I was particularly interested in that article because I am related to the Mattinglys on my mother's side of the family. . . .
I haven't seen any evidence of the genetic disorder in my branch of descendants of Thomas Mattingly, but I think that you did a great service by making other Mattingly descendants aware of a potential inherited problem. You have made it possible for other relatives to check their family branches and, perhaps, illuminate further where the genetic disorder originated. If the researchers find any more branches of the family with a tendency toward this disorder as a result of your article, I hope you will let us know.
Thank you for providing such a nice Sunday magazine with information specific to Maryland and Marylanders. . . .
Aleda Bunch
Cockeysville
Disservice to diners
Editor: I have sat silently too long and watched your food editor, Elizabeth Large, miss many a point in her critique of some of our better dining establishments.
Case in point: Mrs. Large says that it is "almost a badge of honor" to be made to wait an hour or more at Tio Pepe's [Dining Out, Jan. 15]. Maybe it would be better if she asked why a patron with a reservation is made to wait. Is it because the sitting diners were all late arriving; or was it because the kitchen and the service were slow; or was it because everyone was just enjoying themselves so much, they forgot what time it was? I think not! The plain and simple fact that is known by everyone is -- they overbook and overbook and overbook. You then have 100 people waiting an hour or more. Does this happen just on a Saturday night? No, it happens all the time at this particular restaurant.
The real badge of honor would be to name the places that respect reservations. It's about time Elizabeth Large answer the real questions her readers want answered instead of just repeating the menu and ingredients of a particular establishment. It would be helpful if she critiqued a place on all the aspects that make dining out a real joy to many.
Michael Balenson
Hunt Valley
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