25 DECEMBER 1953, Page 6

Down with Culture •

There is only one odd thing about a letter which takes me to task for some half-forgotten reference to Philistines who object to the State subsidising art. The writer expresses him- self in familiar terms.. " Strix must indeed stand aloof from his fellow-countrymen if he has not yet realised that the vast majority of the people of Britain have no interest in Art of any kind." There follow references to " Strix's fatuousness " and a perhaps less justified diatribe against the " smug con- ceit of those who attend Art exhibitions." The letter is in fact a standard product. The only odd thing about it is that it was written by the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Education in one of Her Majesty's Colonies.