31 DECEMBER 1921, Page 15

AUTHORS' FAVOURITE WORDS.

[To THE EDITOR or THE " Speoreroa."] Sni,—I have just been looking at a letter in the Spectator about "Authors' Favourite Words." Your correspondent speaks of glorious old Milton being fond of " far," " light," "darkness," " high," and such everyday words. I wonder he does not add the word " the " to his list. But there is an out-of-the-way word that his glorious old Milton does rather harp on. That word is " orient." It is not long ago I was reading glorious old Milton myself, and I thought I could have done with a little less orient:—

"Pillows his chin upon an orient wave.

Offering to every weary traveller His orient liquor in a crystal glass. Ten thousand banners rise into the air With orient colours waving.

Dwell, not unvisited of heaven's fair light, Secure, and at the brightening orient beam.

Thick with sparkling orient gems The portal shone.

Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold. When first on this delightful land he spreads His orient beams.

Now morn her rosy steps in the eastern clime Advancing, sowed the earth with orient pearl. Shot through with orient beams.

Now when fair morn orient in heaven appeared. When orient light Exhaling first from darkness they beheld. Morning light More orient in you western cloud."