11 SEPTEMBER 1953, Page 6

New Star To be perspicuous, discriminating and far-sighted is the

aim of all serious periodicals. Sometimes they fall—without, apparently noticing it—short of their aim. Sometimes events trove their judgment to have been sound; but when this happens they are often debarred—mainly by their innate modesty, partly perhaps by the number of other organs which said roughly the same thing at roughly the same time—from indulging in the luxury of I told you so." The Spectator has never claimed to see further into a crystal bowl than any of its rivals; but, as I watched Miss Audrey Hepburn's delightful performance in Roman Holiday, I found it gratify- ing to recall that site received favourable notice in our columns while she was still in the chorus of a review at the Cambridge Theatre in 1949. . STRIX