Is bridge a “sport” (Report, 28 April)? The question is sure to generate passions. But to the Hemingway edict that boxing, bullfighting and motor racing are the only sports, the rest are all games, I could add a distinguishing and defining characteristic. For a game to be called a sport, it must have a need for hand-eye coordination. So snooker, darts and clay pigeon shooting would fall under the rubric of “sports” and bridge, chess and Scrabble under “games”. Problem solved.
Vijay Kumar
Manchester
• I was interested in Peter Bradshaw’s article (25 April) about the mystery surrounding Charles Foster Kane’s last words in Citizen Kane. When we are shown images of Xanadu being demolished, various items belonging to Kane are being tossed into a furnace. As his beloved sledge, associated with the young Kane’s childhood, and a symbol of his then happy life, succumbs to the flames, we can clearly see the name Rosebud resplendent for all to see. There is no mystery.
Linda Maguire
Wallingford, Oxfordshire
• In France, Germany, Italy and other European countries, people are still going into shops and buying une livre, ein pfund and una libra of sausages – they all just get 500 grammes (Letters, 29 April). People have long since stopped making a fuss over metrication. Ancient terminology survives everywhere, all you need is a bit of imagination. I always ask for a metric pound of minced beef at my butcher and they seem to understand what I mean.
Maidi Brown
Brentwood, Essex
• I recall the alarm of a local surgeon who arrived at the hospital to see a sign “warning – guard dogs operating today” (Letters, 27 April).
Judith McBrien
Saltash, Cornwall
• Does anyone ever take all their personal belongings with them? Will I be thrown off a train for not having them with me when I get on?
Julia Smith
London
