Editor:

I've learned that some Journal readers didn't "get" my letter of April 19 ("Mailbox"). They thought that I really was accusing Editor Carrie Peyton Dahlberg of "badgering, beleaguering and bullying" and other "pernicious conduct."

I didn't mean any of the unkind things I wrote about Ms. Peyton Dahlberg. My letter was a parody of a letter published the previous week, with her name inserted in place of the person attacked in that letter. My intent was to show how ridiculous and offensive the original letter was and to suggest that the Journal think more carefully before printing character assassinations in its letters column.

Lastly, my apologies to any friends who were concerned that I'd gone around the bend.

Jim Hight
Arcata