BELLIES
have just seen " Janus's" remarks about the term " Under-belly " in your issue of March 19th. Though the expression was used by the Prime Minister in a broadcast (but even Jove may nod), it has long been familiar in describing the colouring of animals.
But, Sir, I submit that " Janus " is too selective in his vision of bellies. There is the upright belly of lumto sapiens (whom we have at present so much cause to admire) and there is the sagging earthy belly of the sow, and the belly an army marches on and the belly the w serpent goes on. Surely the map of Axis Europe much resembles, " in those parts," the sow's belly, and can be hit in the side, even by a downward glancing thrust or from plumb underneath.
On the shifting sands of journalese, broadcastcry and (please God!) evanescent oratory on which we try uncertainly to base ourselves, "Janus " is surely being one-headed and narrow in objecting to so full- mouthed a term as " under-belly." If he persists he should also re- act against the (to the pernickety) tautological emphtic in all its forms- " this too, too solid" speech in which our greatest writers of the sup- posedly spoken word are rich—sometimes indeed wallow, to our delight.
—I am, Sir, &c., MARK WARDLE. Travellers' Club, Pall Mall, S.W. 1.
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