THE IMPORTANCE , OF BEING EARNEST
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] Sra,—In your issue of September 20th, Janus asks whether the " fact " that in the Irish Free State almost every car with a priest in it is a Fiat, is to be explained by a secret commercial elauSe in the Lateran Treaty. Of course, his alleged fact is all moonshine—he has taken literally .some loose remark made by an unreliable informant.. No one will be anything but amused at his error—(the hopeless inaccuracy of gossip writers is a byword)—but that a deduction so childish should be made from it is indeed a matter for tears rather than laughter.
Janus appears to be afflicted with that curious Protestant disease in which, at the ,mere mention of Rome,„ reason at once leaves the presidential chair and nonsense takes,.her place. Does poor Janus think that when the .obedient `Bishops go. to. Rome to pay their respects, the Holy Father ends the interview by saying, " and, my dear son, be Much, Obliged if you will urge your priests to buy. Fiat motors ; the young and sporting priests might even go in for Alfa-Romeos " ? Or how is it done ? Is.it any wonder that when evidence of this kind of blind prejudice can appear in reputable English journals, many Irishmen. wonder how reason is ever to preside over discussions between Irishmen and Englishmen ?—Yours faithfully, [Janus writes : The quotation marks with which the word " fact " is adorned in the second line of this letter would sag's gest that I had used the word in my paragraph. It is not so. The paragraph began (quite veraciously) " I am told." As to the question, "Does poor Janus think . . ?" NO; rio'; he • was host unwisely attempting' a light touch. Alas; pdor 'Janus t]
Previous page
