26 MAY 1950, Page 18

Which Epigone?

SIR,-1 wonder how many of us Mr. Harold Nicolson sent scrambling for our O.E.D.'s last week. Personally I am grateful for the enforced learning, but I do venture to hope that when he deprecates himself as an " epigone," our genial preceptor wishes us to understand only that he is " one of a succeeding (and less distinguished) generation," and not " the membranous bag which encloses the spore-case of a liverwort or scale-moss when young "!—Yours anxiously, MAGNUS WECHSLER. 115 Ladbroke Road. W.I I.