28 DECEMBER 1907, Page 17

INS AND OUTS.

[To THE EDITOR OW THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In your amusing article on "Ins and Outs" in last week's Spectator you quote Lady Grove as assuring us that certain unfashionable pronunciations are "irretrievably damn- ing." The society manner of pronouncing the word " girl " —which is almost, but not quite, represented by the spelling gal—would, I presume, be an excellent example of fashionable pronunciation, and it would be interesting to know what the Spectator could say for or against it. My inability to pro- nounce this word with the nuance which is considered correct within the charmed circle irretrievably stamps me as one of the OUTS. [We should have thought gairl was nearer than gal.—ED. Spectator.]