Sir: I was pleased to be reminded by Mr Alan
Clark of Sir Kingsley Amis saying that the waiter's seemingly innocent question 'Red or white, sir?' — introduced a feeling of impending boredom and horror.
Such questions and answers can produce different emotions. The late Colonel Charles Mitchell of the Royal Northumber- land Fusiliers was a noted connoisseur, col- lector (and no mean consumer) of vintage port. One year it had been decided to hold his regiment's annual dinner — some thought rather adventurously — at the Tro- cadero. All went well until a waiter placed a decanter at the Colonel's elbow — 'Would you care for some port, sir?' Oh yes,' said Charles. 'What is it?' Kind of red wine, sir', said the helpful waiter.
It was not a longueur that the good Colonel experienced.
CA F. Baker-Cresswell
Bamburgh, Northumberland
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