12 APRIL 1957, Page 30

Tables of measures, found in diaries and exer- cise books,

can reveal fascinatingly obscure units of measurement, e.g. 2 firkins=1 kilderkin;

strikes=1 sack; 4 lines=1 barleycorn. We also hear of new scientific terms for units of atomic energy, sound, pain, etc. For a prize of six guineas competitors are invited to invent a table of measures for some abstract feature of modern life, e.g. bureaucracy, sex-appeal, lifemanship.

Entries, addressed 'Spectator Competition No. 374,' 99 Gower Street, London, WCI, by April 23. Results on May 3.