Max at 80 .
Sia,—Mr. Michael. Swan's article, Max at 80, brought to mind Meredith's test of the genuine Comic Spirit, the ability " to see what is ludicrous in those we love without loving them less." Sir Max assuredly has that spirit in abundance, though perhaps it would be appropriate to substitute " admire " for " love."
I was at Merton two undergraduate generations after Max Beerbohm, and he was already becoming a legend. I recall only. two items from the hagiology. As he strolled sedately into college in the middle of Eights Week, a hurrying wet-bob shouted to him, " Coming down to the river ? " and he replied with raised eyebrows " What river ? " Only a very young Max could have been so obvious. The other item is more in character. He was given a room in college on condition that he kept hanging on the wall a singularly dreary portrait of Lord Randolph Churchill, a former occupant. This was painfully out of harmony with his taste in decoration. But he kept his contract by hanging the picture as low down as possible, and pushing against the wall a square table covered with a large cloth which on
the outer side reached the floor.—Yours truly, W. HAMILTON FYFE. 30 St. Germans Place; Blackheath, S.E.3.
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