‘Dead Man’s Hand’

Jack Mathews’ reference to the “dead man’s hand” as “full house, aces over eights” in his review of “Wild Bill” (Calendar, Dec. 1) is wrong. The “dead man’s hand” was two pair--aces and eights--usually depicted as all black (clubs and spades) plus either the nine or queen of diamonds.

JOHN F. STOPP, DDS, Van Nuys