Sir, – Letter writers (January 3rd) fret over words scampering down the folds or creases of the newspaper. Don't they know that, since time immemorial, any one issue of a newspaper is as ephemeral as marsh gas?
For my part, I continue to be in awe at the production achievement that is the modern automated printing press. In opening and reading tidily through the newspaper’s pages, I endeavour to respect the physical condition in which it arrived and the human ingenuity and technological precision that put it all together so perfectly! – Yours, etc,
OLIVER McGRANE,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – James Joyce showed one way to resolve the problem of the folds in The Irish Times. Jacques Mercanton located a copy of The Irish Times in Lausanne for him. Joyce slid it under his coat, against his back: “Nothing will keep you warmer than that. Provided it’s a good newspaper,” he insisted. It was then ready to read, and no harm had been done to the paper. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK CALLAN,
Portmarnock, Co Dublin.
Sir, – I’d like to remind Graeme Guthrie (Letters, January 3rd) that he will not be able to rely on the ironing skills of his butler indefinitely. The law of de-creasing returns will inevitably come into play. – Yours, etc,
TERRY PATTISON,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.