31 MAY 1997, Page 28

Misapplied

Sir: It is sad that the estimable Sheridan Morley, drama critic, can write (Arts, 3 May) that Barrie's plays 'have been more honoured in the breach than the obser- vance' — a phrase exhaustingly misapplied. Hamlet meant that the king's wassailing was not an honourable custom: that's all.

John Ashe

Cross Farm House, Cleverton, Wiltshire