23 APRIL 1954, Page 13

SEEING AND SPELLING

SIR,—Struck by the first two paragraphs of

'

Sidelight' in the Spectator of April the 16th, I should like to congratulate Compton Mac- kenzie on retaining to this day his "ability. to read and spell with accuracy words o which" he does not "know the meaning," and condole with him on the fact that, at least in the case of proper names, his photographi memory appears to be astigmatic.—Your faithfully,

A. CLASS

The Department of Phonetics, The University, Glasgow, W.2