C. W. Brodribb. - APOLOGIES are first of all due

to Mr. A. C. C. Brodribb, whose father's name, as author of the example provided, was misquoted in the Spectator of February 14.

The subject proved a popular one, 'pop' Singers and dictators predominating, hereditary peers be- ing, I should think, third. Opinions varied as to whether the idea was to have two-word or two- syllable lines; 'The Rake's Progress' gives no clear ruling on this point as its lines are all of two mono- syllables, and as the two-syllableschool was larger and in any case better, the prizes go to them. Some of the disyllable faction were eminently quotable, however. J. A. Lindon's explorer was 'gripped, stripped, flayed, made meat an' eaten,' while his singer's 'spotter got her howling, yowling, skiffle-piffle: Hale y-waily, Steeley-squealy. Elvis- pelvis-Wiggle (giggle !), telly-yelly. . . .' And Joyce Johnson's was a 'plump lump, laced waist, making-up taking-up hours. . .

Whether plagiarism was intentional or not, there seemed to be several repetitions of parts of the example. Dads were mostly bad (though some- times sad or mad); schools produced a surprising number of fools; reaction to work was to shirk, and many of the subjects were finally found drowned.

More originally, a child was often wild, mum usually dumb or glum; singers and African explorers seemed to appear sooner or later on TV, and hardly a field-marshal could be found without the VC.

Quotation is, I think, merited in the follow- ing cases :

'POP' SINGERS

Bop Pop-Jam Dam-Hot Cot-Cool School- Choice Voice-Tops Pops-Rare Square-Tears PRIZES

(GRANVILLE GARLEY) AFRICAN EXPLORER'S PROGRESS

Wild child Bad lad School fool Dire sire Mum glum 'Bye-bye' New View Vile Nile Damp tramp Found mound Odd God Then-men!

Bleak clique Dread head Big nig Yelp 'Help' No go- Hot pot.

(ELSIE PATERSON) A PHILOSOPHER'S PROGRESS

Mild child.

High I.

Q., due Sane brain.

Toil, moil Made grade.

Coll. Schol.

Plods 'Mods.'

Hon. Don.

Task ask' Can man Be free?

Look! Book Fame came.

LL.

D., he.

(VERA TELFER) A DICTATOR

Wild child, Youth. 'Struth ! Thug, jug; Bops cops, Lout out. Totes votes; Spouts, shouts; Gains' reins; Tries wise; Sheds heads. Rules fools; Blood flood; Tears, fears; Chill, ill: Worse hearse. Earth mirth. Hell? Well!

(H. B. MCCASKIE)

A HEREDITARY PEER

(Seen through very red • eyes) School : fool, Nitwit, Slacked, sacked. Guards : cards, Bets, pets, Splash. Crash. Blamed, shamed, Dunned, shunned? Oh, no.

Nobs' jobs, Boards, Lords' Fees; he's Oke. Folk Kowtow. So show Birth worth