Editor:

I would like to express my appreciation to Barry Evans for his wonderful columns that appear in these pages. Evans combines intelligence, curiosity and a mischievous joie de vivre with the ability to write gracefully and clearly. His is a rare configuration of gifts; for where else can we find a person who can discourse learnedly on ancient brassieres, as well as on the habits of the Higgs boson?

This letter has been "in the works" for a long time, but the required impetus has been supplied by a recent appearance of a letter to the editor of this paper unfairly attacking him ("Mailbox," Nov. 14). So bravo, Barry! Keep up the good work. Someday I may get to meet you, and perhaps we can then talk about your recent stimulating biocentrism article.

Robert Astrue, Trinidad