A reader writes, “Do you remember when Abercrombie & Fitch was a pretty upscale men’s clothing store? [No.] I know I still have ties from there and probably a sweater or two. Wouldn’t go in the place now.” Why did this reader write this? In Impromptus today, I tell about visiting a store called Hollister, on Fifth Avenue. When my little niece, visiting from Michigan, saw the store, she ran for it like a bear to honey. A creepy experience, being in that store. And one thing I neglected to mention in my column: The lights were low, almost off.

One of WFB’s subjects, in the early 2000s, was the pornification of our culture. He zeroed in on Abercrombie & Fitch, which was trafficking in something like kiddie porn — or adolescent porn — in its ads. This year, Abercrombie Kids, the youth division of the company, has come out with the “Ashley.” This is an itty-bitty bikini pitched to girls eight to fourteen. The Ashley, in the words of one report, “comes complete with thick padding for breast enhancement.”

The squares are up in arms, which no doubt pleases Abercrombie & Fitch. Reminds me of opera directors in Europe. They put filth on the stage, and then a few squares complain, and the directors murmur, “Triumph.” But I tip my hat to the squares: Say it loud, say it proud.

Other items in Impromptus? There is a letter from a liberal reader, talking about the need to tolerate those of differing political views. As a rule, who’s better at this, liberals or conservatives? An interesting, even a moving, letter. It has prompted some (additional) mail. I’ll say merely this, here: Any conservative who hasn’t had the experience of being snubbed once someone finds out about his political views — should get out more.

No, one more thing: If your politics are your religion, essentially, you may treat someone who disagrees with you as a heretic to be burned. If your politics are just your politics — you might say, “Whatev, let’s talk about baseball or butterflies or something . . .”