I am dismayed to see that the play “Inherit the Wind” has regained popularity in this year of the Darwin bicentennial. The play generally is supposed to portray what happened in Dayton, Tenn., in 1925, but it bears little relation to the facts. The truth is, John T. Scopes never taught evolution. He only pretended to have done so.

As a substitute teacher, he used the class time to plan plays in his capacity as athletic coach. The boys who testified against him were persuaded to think they had been taught evolution. So why have a trial? The purpose was to get publicity for Dayton, Tenn., and drum up some business. The world fell for this fraud and still does. The true story is told in Chapter 3 of my book “The End of Darwinism.”

Eugene Windchy

Alexandria, Va.