13 APRIL 1929, Page 19

" HARM-BRACE."

In spite of the protest of your correspondent, Mr. I. G. Kennedy, I think Miss Letts in her article on Halloire'en was perfectly correct in his spelling of this word. Chambers (the only dictionary I haste at 'hand) gives " Barmbrack, a currant bun.," and derives it from the Irish " bairigen breac," speckled cake. There is, of course, no connexion with the English " harm." But as " Barmbrack " we always spoke of it when I was a boy in Ulster over fifty years ago ; and Miss Lett's pleasant article brought back many happy znemories.-111. M. W.