page_0001

KANKE (P. 0.)
RANCHI.
BIHAR & ORISSA.
Telegrams: "Kanke"

30th. March, 1932.

Dear Mr. Bucha ,

As one who was brought up in an atmosphere
impregnated with a deep reverence for Sir Walter and his works,
I do not understand how you attribute io Sir Walter a "fescennine
humour". Unless I am mistaken, the term "Fescinnine jestz" which is
frequently used in reference to ritual ribaldry comes from the name
of the Etruscann city Fescennium, and we are told by Horace that those
religious obscentities of speech were used in the course of ceremonies
connected with the harvest festival.

It seems to me that this type of humour was quite
foreign to "a rugged sense of decency", see p. 368 of. your Life of
Sir Walter Scott.

I enclose my card and remain,

dear Mr. Buchan,
very faithfully yours,
Owen Berkely-Hill

(Owen Berkeley-Hill)
Lieut . Colonel, Indian Medical Service .

P.S. I hope I am addressing this letter correctly. Please
forgive me if I am not so doing.