On April 21, 1995, Brian Collins wrote, in regard to my comments on mob mentality in Twain: And yet with all his keen understanding of mobs and demagogues, he could so idealize leadership? There is a difference between leadership and mob rule which you seem to have missed. Mobs rarely have leaders; they merely are mobs, people acting without plan or actual pupose except for the desire for instant gratification of some impulse or another. The impulse, upon later reflection, is usually found to be evil or, at the very least, what the social workers like to call "acting out," or, "inappropriate." Leadership, on the other hand, implies purpose, whether for good or evil. At least with leadership there is a 50-50 chance of good coming to the fore. Even congress can be seen as a mob, especially when it comes election time and all those up for re-election, as well as the new candidates, begin demagoging about whatever the hot topic of the day is. An example? Our representatives here in Connecticut have already joined the herd by not failing to mention the death penalty at least 2 or 3 times during interviews about the OK City mess. Marcus W. Koechig