Mike Royko

* Mike Royko, God rest his soul, would have made an excellent carpenter--he was forever hitting the nail right on the head (obituary, April 30).

He also had a special knack for placing a mirror in front of his readers so that they could have a better view of themselves. To wit: The young lady, who ran out of gas on the expressway, complaining so bitterly about the serviceman taking so long to deliver her some petrol, as though it was his fault that she ran out of fuel late at night.

All Royko ever asked of people was to do their part to help make America a greater country.

JIM HULGAN

Azusa

* Royko’s satire, which usually hit the bull’s-eye, was wrapped in brilliant humor that made me laugh. He compared Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas) to his childhood pet, Ole Clyde, a short-legged, long-eared, sad-eyed basset hound.

ROBERT Q. CUNNINGHAM

San Marino