In the best circles
Sir: Mr Nigel Nicolson (14 February) is anxious to persuade us that an 'aristocracy of birth and wealth' has been replaced by an 'aristocracy of achievement.' This new elite, like the old one, has its 'possessions, friendships, pleasures and forms of speech.' In other words we British have learned to be snobbish in a quite _unsnobbish way.
I find it sad to read such contortions by Mr Nicolson whose admirable mandarin culture should steer him clear of the sociology of matey- ness. Surely we all know that the circles-system is dead; that there is no new elite and that every- one can now have uninteresting friends and be as-vulgar as they wish? This, at least, is what more and more of us are doing.
There is a 'happy revolution' which Mr Nicol- . son senses and, I think, misdescribes. It lies, I suggest, in the progress of young people towards a new, less parochial and less ego-driven vitality.
They are confused now; and perhaps the task of ex-circles-men is to conserve for them some- thing of the genuine past. At any rate one should not, I feel, enthuse about an imaginary middle-agers' present.
39 Edwardes Square, London W8 Charles Janson
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