22 NOVEMBER 1957, Page 30

SIR,—Mr. Fairlie's use of the term 'hysteria' consti- tutes a

psychiatric absurdity : and, if, as a practising journalist, he has time to read the classics, I suggest that, ere returning to the topic, he peruses The Major Symptoms of Hysteria, by Pierre Janet.

Further, the gravamen of the public outcry against Lord Altrincham and Mr. Muggeridge resided, surely, in the belief that, as comfortably-off word-spinning intellectuals, they appeared to have used their corn- petences and skills to effect an attack on—a lonely Lady.—Yours faithfully,