20 OCTOBER 1917, Page 15

A CURIOUS COINCIDENCE.

(To THE Enema or zee " Sesocrwros.."1

Ste,—It would be very interesting to know what may he Mr. Lucas's authority for the story quoted in the review in last Saturday's issue of the Spectator of his book, d Boswell of Baghdad. According to that story, Sissah, the inventor of the game of chess, asked of King Shibrani, as his reward, that he might be given corn enough to oover the board, doubling the number of grains on each square. In was then found that all the grain in the world would be insufficient to satisfy him. Now for my coincidence. I saw this review on Saturday, and on the previous evening I wen reading the Voyages d'Antenor en Grecs et en A,sie (my copy is twelfth edition, 1819), when I came upon the self-same story applied to Dionysiue the Tyrant of Syracsee. who asked his friend ArisHppus what he could do to give hiss, pleasure. Aristipp. made the same request, which was granted scornfully, and then found impoeeible of fulfilment for the same reason. As this legend has been ascribed to two historical personages, can it be possible that it may be told of yet others? And which wail the earlier, the King or the Tyrant ?-1 am, Sir, tee., Srrenist Susses.

Little Bounds, Flect,Hampshire.