28 NOVEMBER 1952, Page 20

There Was an Old/Young Man

Snt,—The Latin rhyme of Professor Haarhoff reminds me of the limerick made up practically on the spur of the moment by Raymond Asquith, who like Dr. Johnson could make a rhyme on almost any name or word. I challenged him to make a rhyme ott Saxmundham when he was staying with us near that town fifty years ago.

After a minute or two he said: - There was an old man of Saxmundham,

Qui habuit ventrem rotundum,

He borrowed £5, From the Master of Hounds, And stoutly refused to refund 'em.

—Yours faithfully, H. UNDERDOWN.

Canton Club, 69 St. James's Street, S.W.I.