THAT POLITICAL STUFF
SIR,—Perhaps it is due to the fact that your Decem- ber 7 Spectator arrived here on Christmas Eve, but I just cannot let the insults to Mr. Betjeman in that issue's letters page pass without comment.
Mr. McDougall calls Mr. Betjeman `this dodo' for insisting on the preservation of the smaller but most precious symbols of our civilisation in a time of great international crisis. Actually, Mr. Betjeman pointed out that the world's difficulties, 'the political stuff' included, in all their vital significance, must not excuse disregard or lack of care for the precious heritage of the nation which will survive, God will- ing, the great international and political crises. Rather, we must attend most vigilantly lest, while we guard the house, the dwellers therein unwittingly spoil it.
The preservation of the milieu of our culture is a vital interest which must not be neglected; let us hope and pray that Mr. Betjeman continues his panoramic perusal of our times from his peculiar point of vantage—affording The Spectator a fuller view of important cultural matters than Time could give, and balancing our efforts to merely survive with his to preserve a land fit to survive in.—Yours faith- fully, FRANCIS SCHWARZENBERGER 915 West End Avenue, New York 25, N.Y.
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