LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
[Letters of the length of one of our leading paragraphs are often more rcad,and therefore more effective, than those which fill treble the space.] THE " SPECTATOR " AND ITS ADVERTISEMENTS.
[To THE EDITOR Of THE " SPECTATOR."]
have been a regular reader and admirer of the Spectator for over thirty years, and have always regarded it as being in a class by itself in regard to moral tone. One or two articles which have appeared during the last twelve months or so have, however, made me sad, and I most earnestly hope that others of a similar nature are not in contemplation. I refer to those relating to goods sold in the shops, and specially to one headed " First Aid to Uncles " in your issue of December 10th, where the names of the firms supplying the goods are freely given. I do not suggest or for one moment believe that the Spectator has received any benefit from the firms in question, but the proceeding is liable to misinterpretation, and it is cer- tainly open to any of the firms to make use of the Spectator's remarks as an advertisement, which if done would, to my mind, be most objectionable and would not enhance the present very high reputation that the Spectator bears for integrity and
disinterestedness.—I am, Sir, &c., S. B. L.-T. London.
[We are sure that our critic's intentions are excellent, but he has apparently failed to notice that we review the books which are advertised in our columns, and have done so for over ninety years without any protests. If we adopted our correspondent's principles we should have to give up our literary columns! Only if it can he shown that we have noticed certain wares or stuffs because they have been advertised in our columns, and that they would not have been noticed but for the advertisements, would "S. B. L.-T." have a right to com- plain. Why should not firms who make and sell good things have their names given just as the publishers of good books have their names recorded as, what they in fact are, bene- factors of the public? Why treat the name of an efficient vendor as a kind of guilty secret? We have often wished we could find space to review "novelties" of all kinds, whether meant for use or beauty, which should be submitted to our notice. We still, indeed, hope for that happy hour. When it comes no notice will be obtainable by advertising, but we shall cer- tainly not penalize advertisers in our columns by a sancti- monious and unjust silence.—ED. Spectator.]
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