The Press: Highly Irregular

To leaven its solid fare of political and artistic comment, London's socialist New Statesman and Nation conducts weekly "competitions" in epigrams, limericks, etc. Recently readers were asked to play a game originated by Philosopher Bertrand Russell. On BBC's Brains Trust program (Britain's sprightly Town Meeting of the Air), he had humorously conjugated an "irregular verb" as "I am firm; you are obstinate; he is a pig-headed fool."

Last week, from 650 entries, the New Statesman ran some rib-tickling winners: ¶ I am sparkling; you are unusually talkative; he is drunk.

¶ I have the New Look; you have let down your hem; she has had that dress since 1934.

¶ I am righteously indignant; you are annoyed ; he is making a fuss about nothing. ¶ I am frank; you are blatant; he is a Buchmanite.

¶I try to see their point of view; you are muddleheaded; he is a crypto-Communist.

¶ I am a creative writer; you have a journalistic flair; he is a prosperous hack. ¶ I am beautiful; you have quite good features; she isn't bad-looking, if you like that type.

¶ I am religious; you go to church; he plays tennis with the vicar. ¶ I have about me something of the subtle, haunting, mysterious fragrance of the Orient; you rather overdo it, dear; she stinks.