27 SEPTEMBER 1963, Page 14

SIR,—As a sexagenarian Guardian addict, 1 have studied Mr. Clive

Irving's article with great interest and a certain amount of wry agreement. To me, how- ever, as possibly to other readers, the Guardian's outstanding merit—outweighing whatever may be its demerits—is that it is indeed 'a paper for lively minds.' For at least fifteen years it has been the main instrument in keeping alert what I am pleased to call my mind, and whenever I have had occasion to read the other quality dailies they have seemed to me, in comparison, quite remarkably dull.