Regarding Zoe Williams’ article (Who should you smile at in the street? Here are my rules – from dogs to babies, 9 September), here in Kirkcudbright we have an influx of visitors in the holidays. Smiling at them and saying “Good morning” is usually greeted with puzzlement and the occasional reply, which allows for an instant identification of “visitor” or “local”. My cocker, Skye, just rolls her eyes.
Keith Langton
Kirkcudbright, Dumfries & Galloway
• Rather than smiling at dogs, Zoe Williams should try winking. Dogs appear to recognise this and get enjoyment from it.
Steve Sheppardson
Snettisham, Norfolk
• While one can applaud Ed Davey’s principled stand in refusing to attend the banquet in Donald Trump’s honour, do your correspondents (Letters, 7 September) seriously believe the UK would have achieved, for example, a better deal on trade tariffs by refusing to engage with him? Grand gestures are fine in opposition, but government inevitably involves compromise and getting one’s hands dirty.
Ian Simpson
London
• Anaesthetics were available in 1950s school dentistry (Letters, 8 September): either an injection of cocaine, no less, or a big slurp of nitrous oxide from a smelly rubber mask. Neither was pleasant.
Mike Heath
Southbourne, West Sussex
• Never mind pumpkin lattes (Letters, 9 September), I have spotted the first mince pies in my local Sainsbury’s, jostling for space with the hot cross buns.
Anne Unseld
Beckenham, London
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