26 DECEMBER 1970, Page 19

Which rat-race?

Sir: Michael Isens's reference to 'the hundred yards rat-race' sug- gests that he sees it in terms of a distance race. Not so! My inter- pretation derives from the mill- race, ball-race, type of race. A rat- race is an internal tread-mill. Seen thus, it takes on a terrifying prospect. The rat must run like mad to stay where he is; any slight advance requires 'Additional effort to maintain the new height; the end of the effort comes when the rat falls exhausted. If a rat-race were merely a fiercely competitive marathon with a goal at the end, then none need fear it. Depress- ingly, there is no final tape to he broken, there's only an endless wheel of steps to climb.