16 DECEMBER 1955, Page 18

ITALIAN AS SHE IS WROTE

SIR,—Italian ecclesiastical authorities are sometimes funny even when they use their own language. About twenty-five years ago, I saw in the porch of a church at Parma a notice, of which the following is a translation : 'For reasons of health and decency and out of respect for Almighty God women are for- bidden to enter this Church with naked arms and everybody is forbidden to spit on the floor.'—Yours faithfully,

W. LYON BLEASEI Bank Chambers, 3 Cook Street, Liverpool, 2