Four letters appear in the cor-Fespondence columns of thig Journal to-day. 'Three of them bear the full signatures" of the writers, the fourth bore the actual initials of th writer. Here was a marked' departure from the habit of contributing to this column under plume: it was refreshing and, It may be observed, each of the four letters had intrinsi¢ merits which the. disclosure of their writers' identities distinctly enhanced, This journal well aware that local' conditions make it impossible for preudonymous letter-writing to be sedulous—eschewed. Yet it must be con= essed that many a letter would give even more authentic pleasure. if the author would permit' publication of his or her name, Obviously this frankness should not be. enjoined. where really solid reasons exist. {OF denying it. Too often it would seem that correspondents are unduly modest or adopt the pseudonymous form more out a belief that t ne= cords with current practice than out of any real necessity to. remain anonymous, It must also be noted. for guidance that the correspondent who signs his name for publication has greater freedom of expression and criticism (subject always to the usual inhibitions) than his pseudonym mous rival. This journal greatly values the privilege of printing words of wisdom from its readers, Just because that is 50, it ventures to draw attention to the advantages of extending the appeal of the cor-Fespondence columns by the simple device of avoiding pseudonymity whenever possible. It is sometimes argued that by oficial or private contracts certain individuals are debarred from putting their names to letters to the Press. This is general ly the outcome of a misapprehension. "Municipal servants. in Shani hai, for example, are under regulation prevented from addressing the Press on matters of which they have oficial cognizance. This does not mean—and there ig unquestioned, authority for the statement—that a Municipal official cannot add to the public's knowledge of the habits of bees by a pithy and fully. signed letter to the Editor. The analogy may be applied fully to other pub We oMeiais or, perhaps, to the em= Dloyees of private firma,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.