25 NOVEMBER 1911, Page 18

QUEERY LEARY. NONSENSE.

[TO TEE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]

Omond's letter shows that Lear was by no means the inventor of a certain type of epitaph. Nearly thirty years ago I bad a collection of epitaphs which was then by no means new. One I recollect very well :— " Here lies Sohn Bunn Killed by a gun.

His name wasn't Bunn, his real name was Wood,

But Wood wouldn't rhyme with gun, so I thought Bunn should! "

'The same book contained; by the way, that beautiful snot is -double entente :- "Tears cannot restore her; therefore do I weep."