4 FEBRUARY 1938, Page 19

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR, —In spite of Miss

Eva Lindt, we are at bottom a humble people, and we might take her strictures too seriously. So let me quote from Those English, by Kurt von Stuttenheim, who knows our country better than she does : "The natural modesty of the Fngliahman is one of his most pleasing characteristics. We muddled through, the English say after a crisis." (p. 54)- "The stranger is in a perpetual state of wonder at English polite- ness, which is found in all classes. London is incomparably more polite than Paris." (p. 16). "No nation laughs at itself so much as these islanders do." (p. 17). "The Englishman is a most sociable creature. Kind-hearted by nature, he hies to give pleasure to other people." (p. 59).

—Yours, &c., W. R. INGE.

Brightwell Manor, Wallingford, Berks.