Sir:

I note with interest in PNR 194 that Iain Bamforth ascribes some difference in eschatology in the German temperament through their language’s habit of telling the half hour forward to the next hour rather than back to the previous hour as is the case with English and French. He may be interested to know that Slavonic languages whose peoples are variously Catholic, Calvinist and Orthodox also tell the time forward. I am also reliably informed that Hungarian does the same. My contact with Orthodox priests indicates a tendency to dwell in the eternal present of the holy spirit. One priest I know does not bother to rewind the old clock in his house when it stops.

SILAS GUNN