20 NOVEMBER 2004, page 36

From Marianne Pitts

Sir: In his lament on the death of decency James Bartholomew reports that the middle class of 1895 donated 10 per cent of their income to charity, and compares this with our......

Prisons Replace Hospitals

Sir: I would like to thank your columnist Theodore Dalrymple for highlighting the very serious issue of the mentally ill being detained in prison rather than being treated in......

Universal Rules

From Christopher Booker Sir: It might seem churlish to quibble with such a charming and generous review as that given by John Bayley to my hook The Seven Basic Plots, Why We......

Motherhood Works

Deborah Clarke Sir: Petronella Wyatt has clearly joined the ranks of those who labour under the delusion that full-time mothers don't do anything that is not related to......

Lay On, Macfluff

From IM. Woolley Sir: Get it right, Jonathan Cecil. John Fraser's muffed entrance as the Messenger in Macbeth (Books, 13 November) is even funnier. He said, 'Your Lord, my Queen......

Diy While You Can

From Sue Doughty Sir: May I urge any readers who have electrical work to do that they get it done before 1 January 2005? From that date, local building regulations will apply,......