20 JUNE 1925, Page 16

" TILL MAY IS OUT "

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Observing in the Spectator the idea that " May " signig fies the tree and not the month, I may say that I used to hear the proverb as :-

"Never, never cast a clout, Till the month of May be out,"

and perchance your correspondents do not know the proverbs ini other countries. I may remind them of the French, " Au milieu de Mai Cue de 1' hiver," and the German, " Um Mai mine Winter Schleppe." In Spanish it is even more pro- nounced : " Never leave off the Caps (Cloak) till the 40th

of May."—I am, Sir, &c., J. F. ANDERSON.

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,--Here is proof positive that the saying, " till May is out " refers to the month and not the flower. The Italians have a proverb to the same effect : " Ne in Maggio, ne in Robeston Wathen, Narberth.