6 JULY 1996, Page 25

Prague bulls-eye

Sir: Paul Johnson's eulogy of contemporary Prague as a sort of capitalist and moralist Valhalla (And another thing, 25 May) fails to take account of some of the brute facts on the ground. When I was visiting a friend there early in 1995, I was told to be very careful about speaking English with him, or with anyone else, in the streets of the city.

He said that, for the legion of spivs and low-life types who infested the tourist part of the city, a naïve English-language speak- er virtually had a bulls-eye painted onto his or her back. He added that in no circum- stances should I take a cab on my own, unless I wanted to end up out in the sticks minus all my money.

John Russell

1/2 McAlister Avenue, Cronulla 2230, Australia