23 MAY 1969, Page 30

Butterfly music

Sir: I see that in a review of a book about Puccini (9 May) Mr Charles Reid writes: 'Mr Ashbrooke writes: 'This is the obverse of deli- cacy . . ." Perhaps so.'

And perhaps, if I may say so, not. May I point out to both these literary gentleman that 'obverse' does not mean 'reverse.' It means, in fact, exactly the reverse. So that the obverse of delicacy is—delicacy. Which I think is hardly what they meant.

I trust all is now clear.

L. E. Weidberg 14 Templewood Avenue, Hampstead, London NW3 Evidently not to Mr Weidberg. The Shorter OED defines 'obverse' as meaning, in its figura- tive sense, 'the counterpart of any fact or truth.'—Editor, SPECTATOR.