Old Lay of Rome

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

It was interesting to read in your review of the last Lampoon that A Lay of Ancient Rome, by Thomas Ybarra '05, is "lifeless," "trite," and "unfunny."

As a matter of fact, this poem is one of the most famous pieces of light verse over published in America. It appears in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations and in most anthologies of such work. A note in one of these, What Cheer, edited by David McCord '21, states that it was even published in Shanghal.

I do not know if the Lampoon's editors included it in the hope of amusing themselves at the expense of your reviewers. I am only writing because I have always found it a delightful poem. John P. C. Train '50 1G

With all due respect to Thomas Ybarra, John Bartlett, Christopher Morley, Louella D. Everett, David McCord, and Mr. Train, the reviewer still considers the poem "lifeless," trite," and "unfunny."--D. L. R.