Sir, - It was generous of you to give the best part of a page to the youthful rantings of Fr O'Hanlon against President Robinson's wearing of the green for her recent audience with the Pope. Father O'Hanlon appears to have been extensively educated in the classical tradition; indeed, at the age of 28, he is still engaged in his studies. These have not had the desired effect on his prose style.
At first I thought it would have been kinder to the sensibilities of his old teachers at St Patrick's Classical School, Navan, to have edited his copy but, on second thoughts, I have decided it is an object lesson for today's English class. Thus, we have: "Does this attemptedly daunting washing line of names and orders representing the big guns . . . (Mixed metaphor) "Is it, mayhap, the epithet `cheap' which appals them? I fear that this poor adjective itself has been cheapened . . ." (Tautology) "I see that my little protest .
has provoked a solemn disavowal from a cabal of brother priests whom I can only regard - alas! as Aras Catholics, if not Aras lickers." (Horrible pun).
These crop up in the first two hundred words. I could read no more but perhaps his old English teacher will loyally persevere. He may see the whole article as an example of a con sequitur. - Yours, etc.,
Glenageary.
Co Dublin.