Notes & Asides

National Review, April 7, 2003

-- Dear Mr. Buckley: For almost two years I have tried to be a regular subscriber to NR. I have really tried!

Sadly, only an occasional issue is delivered to me. Despite my several letters to your customer-service people, I do not receive your magazine on a regular basis. To make matters worse, I really enjoy NR, and am angered when I don't receive it.

And it's not your fault.

The delivery problems lie with the mail room at this prison and the post office in the small town of Gatesville, Tex. Their employees take an immediate and intense dislike to any prisoner who exhibits strong conservative (or "Yankee") interests. That dislike manifests itself as obstruction and delay of incoming publications such as NR.

Since your renewal notices and your promotional materials reach me as addressed, why does NR not reach me when it is addressed in exactly the same way? The answer lies with people who, if asked, will deny any responsibility for non-delivery. What to do?

Sincerely,

Roger Hummel

Gatesville, Tex.

--Dear Mr. Hummel: Two years? That's a long time to put up with only irregular access to National Review. Was that a part of your sentence? If so, that is cruel and unusual punishment, and you should check in with the ACLU.

Cordially, WFB

-- Dear Mr. Buckley: While reading N&A, I came upon a new word: paralepsis. To my chagrin, you didn't give an example. I think I have one: the late Will Rogers's observation that "We in the United States have the finest legislature that money can buy." Does that qualify?

John H. Forsberg

Los Altos, Calif.

--Dear Mr. Forsberg: No, I don't think that would do it, because the contrary point needs to be subordinate. The classic paralepsis is: "I come not to praise Caesar, but to bury him" (ha ha).

Cordially, WFB

--Dear Mr. Buckley: One is always delighted to see a discussion of Bach in your magazine (Dec. 9). Re the writer who dropped the "small but interesting tidbit" that the Second Brandenburg Concerto has no viola part, please be assured that the concerto does have a viola part. This part is famous to students of Bach for the parallel octaves that it has with the solo violin in measure 11 of the first movement. My Dover score explains that Bach attempted to correct this but in doing so created parallel fifths with the solo clavier, so the reading with parallel octaves, which are less noticeable, is generally used.

Robert S. Howe, M.D.

Wilbraham, Mass.

--Dear Dr. Howe: So many thanks. We'll count that issue put to bed!

Cordially, WFB

-- Dear Mr. Buckley: A year or so ago a gentleman wrote a poignant letter requesting an answer to his question. He was terminally ill and ended his request: "But please hurry." He got a prompt reply. In the wake of his strategy, after a half-century of wanting to know why writers keep breaking into French, I pray for an answer. I took Latin and Spanish, but have never snuck in a snippet of Latin or a dash of Spanish to embellish my point. Sometimes the writer will have the English translation of the French, sometimes not. I have a dictionary open to look up new words, but they are English words. I do not (nor ever did) want to learn French. Why do you do it?

I am only 72, but I do have an early-morning cough.

Linda Crowley

Cochranville, Pa.

Dear Miss Crowley: The use of a French word or expression does not bespeak ostentation, nor does it suggest that the reader is expected to speak French. The thing of it is that some words or phrases that belong to Latin or French -- or even German, Gesundheit! -- have nuances which bring an intended emphasis (Voila!), draw attention to a cliche (Toujours la meme chose!), or invoke a scene-setting (mise en scene). No offense is meant, and none should be taken, d'accord?

Cordially,

-- WFB