TOE TO TOW

A common error resulted in a confusing headline in Palm Latitudes (“Towing the Orthodox Hemline,” Jan. 27). You mean toeing, not towing. Human toes are involved, not trucks. 19th-Century classrooms had cracks in the floor. Teachers would have their pupils place their toes along the cracks during spelling competitions. This method of lining up students became so prevalent that the expressions toe the line, toe the mark and even toe the crack have now become honorable parts of the American language.

HERBERT G. ROSENBLOOM

Sepulveda