22 JULY 1922, Page 14

" THE ILLOGIC OF STONEY blEATFORD." (To THE EDITOR OP

THE SPECTATOR.'9 was not aware that the amusing non sequitur to which Mr. Robert Graves refers in his interesting article in your issue of July 15th had appeared in print. I heard it many years ago from the late Dr. Thomas Hodgkin, who was much amused by it. But I have often thought that it really forms a parallel to the well-known lapsus linguae story, and affords another instance of the spoilt joke. I am disposed to think that in the original and correct form the place to which reference is made was Hitchin, not Stoney Stratford, and that the saying ran : " Well is this place called 'Itchin, for -never was I so bitten by fleas in my life before."—I am, Sir, EDWARD G. BROWN E.