3 MARCH 1944, Page 14

THE TRUTH ABOUT " JANUS "

SIR,—A verse of Proverbs seems pertinent to the discussion on the " heartiness " of B.B.C. early morning news reading. It has been quite unknown to anyone I have ever asked, layman or cleric, as it evidently is to the B.B.C. It runs "He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him." (XXVII. x4). Clearly, thousands of years ago, such behaviour was recognised as something false and hollow, hence the dislike—and usually distrust—of it felt by most people and expressed by " Janus."—Yours faithfully,