Sir, In her "Paper Round" column (April 12th), Katherine Holmquist records the antics of a group of young men in Dingle. Their behaviour "shocked and disgusted" locals, who said: "The men spoke with cultured Dublin accents."
This made one wonder what is actually meant by "cultured" these days. The account immediately brought to my mind one of my favourite passages from Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens. Miss Petowker, Mr Lillyrick and Mrs Kenwigs are discussing Nicholas.
"He has a very nice face and style, really," said Mrs Kenwigs. "He certainly has," added Miss Petowker, There's something in his appearance quite dear, dear, what's that word again.
What word?" inquired Mr Lillyvick.
"Why, dear me, how stupid I am," replied Miss Petowker, hesitating. "What do you call it when Lords break off door knockers and beat policemen and play at coaches with other people, money, and all that sort of thing?
"Aristocrat," suggested Mr Lillyvick.
"Ah, aristocrat," replied Miss Petowker, something very aristocratic about him, isn't there?
Plus ca change . . . ? Yours, etc.,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.