Sir: Miss Petronella Wyatt is right about Italians. They are,
for the most part, a bunch of knaves and poltroons. The late Galeazzo Ciano derisively described his own country as an Italietta. And yet, politics aside, look how bravely he died.
Similarly, no one, except possibly histori- ans, remembers the courage of the bersagliere in the Crimea; nor perhaps that of the Litton division in Spain; and even less, the courage displayed by the ultras of the Salo Republic. Not so much stereotyp- ing, but Zeitgeist.
I don't know about anyone else, but I cry over all sorts of silly things — and the aria that brings me out in full flood is Tosca's `vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore'. On the other hand, I laugh at pomposity, hypocrisy and philistinism.
Incidentally, I think Miss Wyatt is an excellent writer, and judging from what one reads in newspapers, I'm sure she has other enchanting attributes too.
Facetta bianca, bella Inghilterra, aspetti, spera . . .
Charles Smith
12 Queen Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
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