14 OCTOBER 1972, Page 29

Poached egg

Sir: It would be intemperate to expect you to print me again, but I Should like Mr Edward Norman (September 16), who is, clearly, one of our younger theologians, to know that to say that someone "did not think he was a poached egg," means that he was not barmy. The reference is to a drawing in Punch by Phil May, at a time when lunatics, being then in a minority, were considered fair game.

The legend under the drawing was, approximately: "Do you happen to have a piece of toast on you?"

"No, why?"

"Because I'm a poached egg and I want to sit down."

T. C. Owtram Villa Belvedere, Gragnano, Lucca