Dear Editor Sir: Have we taken leave of our senses
? I read in last week's Sunday Times that a letter written by Mr Jeremy Thorpe to another man displayed a degree of affection which was unusual between two men.
If the meaning of words is to be taken literally, I commit this offence daily. I sign about a dozen letters a day to my Bank Manager, The Borough Treasurer, The Head of the Accounts Department of the North Thames Gas Board and the Postmaster-General, which reek of unnatural
passion. What could be more provocative or sensual than to precede the word Sir, a masculine and indeed manly noun with the tender, intimate and affectionate adjective, 'dear'—a word, one might think appropriate for use by a husband addressing rits wife or a father addressing his daughter, but hardly correct between father and son.
Worse is to come. I have hitherto ended such letters by signing myself as 'yours faithfully'. But one can hardly think of a less suitable adverb, suggesting as it does the fidelity of the marriage bond or at least the pangs of eternal but unrequited love. The father of one of my godsons is a Mr Dear. Thank goodness we were on christian name terms before I had to write to him as Dear Dear.
With great apprehension I sign myself Yours Humphry Berkeley Three Pages Yard, Chiswick, London W4
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