In my Impromptus today, there is a mélange of issues: political, social, historical, athletic. Something for everyone to like, and dislike. Give it a go, here. Now let’s have some mail.

Lately, I have had cause to mention Alan Jay Lerner, the lyricist and librettist. He worked with the composer Frederick Loewe — hence, “Lerner & Loewe.” A reader writes,

I was on Jeopardy about 20 years ago. (I was murdered.) I tried to ring in to answer a clue about a musical duo, but fortunately someone beat me to the buzzer because after the fact I realized that I was going to say, “Who are Leopold and Loeb?” Different duo, less delightful.

How do you not love it?

Earlier this month, I wrote about The Master and Margarita, Bulgakov’s classic novel, which has been made into a movie by the director Michael Lockshin. A reader writes,

I had never heard of The Master and Margarita until you brought it up. I was stirred to go to the library to see if they had a copy. The Menomonie, Wis., library is not large, but they had two copies. Only 36 people on the waiting list. Figuring two weeks per checkout, sometime in February I may get to read it. Provided nobody extends. Kind of impressed that a book nobody had heard of until the day before yesterday is in such high demand. You have no idea of your power, do you?

I just think the residents of Menomonie are in a Stalin-era–novel phase.

In my Impromptus yesterday, I had a note about the Confederacy. (Mississippi is observing “Confederate Heritage Month.”) A reader writes,

From the strange-but-true files. I grew up in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 1984, when I arrived in South Carolina, I met an old-timer. He insisted that he’d never carry in his wallet a five-dollar bill or a fifty. “Want nothing to do with Lincoln or Grant.”

Keep your powder dry.

In a letter I published yesterday, a reader mentioned “Kentucky,” as performed by the Osborne Brothers. Another reader says,

I had to share another version of “Kentucky.” I am a flat-out partisan of any Everly Brothers cover of any song. But I heard them sing “Kentucky” live at every one of their concerts I was fortunate to see. Sublime, absolutely sublime. Here’s a link to an early performance that illustrates the love they had for the song and the state. Enjoy!

Yes, indeed.

Finally,

Our youngest son is a freshman violin-performance major at a university known for its music school. Last week, he and some friends had a gig in the community, at a women’s club. We had a text conversation I thought you might enjoy.

Mom: so was your gig elderly ladies oohing and aahing over your playing?
Son: no, it was rich ladies day drinking
Mom: who went? What did you play?
Son: me and 2 friends. A trio playing quartet music
Mom: ah! So which instrument were you missing?
Son: viola. Nobody noticed

Brutal. My thanks to one and all readers and correspondents.