The Editor, Sir:

I must confess that after reading Ian Boyne's article "What's a columnist for?" on Sunday, my heart was filled with sympathy for him. It cannot be an easy thing to be a well-read, heuristic writer and not get any 'Pram! Pram!' or 'shout-outs' from the massives. Don't these intellectual gnomes realise what a treasure and a giant we have in our midst?

This erudite, and as readers were reminded several times, well-read veteran journalist committed to the Socratic method of teaching - damn he's good! - began his article by lamenting that "it was ok to boast about your art collection, your antiques, your athletic abilities, your musical skills, but not about your books. If you read widely, it is not polite, but insufferably arrogant and conceited to let on about it ... It's not 'cool' in our society to give the impression that you are well read".

Why boast?

My question is, why boast at all? Is his aim really to teach people, or to advertise the fact that he peruses many journals and books?

Besides all that, there is something tacky about people who make frequent references to their wonderful art or antique collection, musical skills or spending habits on books, whatever the topic of conversation is.

The problem is not that Mr Boyne reads widely, but rather, a seemingly a deep-seated need to advertise this. The ideas under discussion are almost lost in the reflected glory of the writer.

But never mind, dear Ian. here's to many more years of useful reading. Pram! Pram!

I am, etc.,

J. P. Phillips

Kingston