30 NOVEMBER 1945, Page 15

ONE FOR JANUS

SIR,—Your contributor " Janus " must indeed be short of topics when he can descend to the anonymous malice of his "Missing Word Competition."

It is difficult to conceive what purpose it can serve, except to titillate the curiosity of those who enjoy a bit of scandal and love to fancy that they are "in the know "; to feed the complacency of others ; and here and there, perhaps, to implant an ugly little barb—while " Janus " sits back and laughs at all three—the scai:dal-mongers, the complacent, and the stung—secure behind.' the shelter of a double anonymity.

It is not in the traditions of The Spectator to give hospitality to such tactics.—Yours faithfully, F. E. HARRISON. The Grammar School, Portsmouth.