Books, Arts & Manners: In Judgment

Your incorruptible judges have met and judged, wrapped in a cloak of unflinching rectitude, and have come up with the winners of the 1987 Delectations contest. Contestants were asked to submit conversation-opening sentences, gambits to break the awful silence that all too often descends on two people sitting or standing next to each other for any length of time. Contestants were to submit a minimum of two conversation starters per entry.

First of all, I wish to thank the hundreds of NR readers who responded to the challenge. The wistfulness of so many of the letters shows that far too many of us have found ourselves in that awful predicament far too often. Also, I would like to say that it was wonderful to find NR readers so very diverse in their approach to the contest. Congratulations to all and sundry!

Your incorruptible judges have met and judged, wrapped in a cloak of unflinching rectitude, and have come up with the winners of the 1987 Delectations contest. Contestants were asked to submit conversation-opening sentences, gambits to break the awful silence that all too often descends on two people sitting or standing next to each other for any length of time. Contestants were to submit a minimum of two conversation starters per entry.

First of all, I wish to thank the hundreds of NR readers who responded to the challenge. The wistfulness of so many of the letters shows that far too many of us have found ourselves in that awful predicament far too often. Also, I would like to say that it was wonderful to find NR readers so very diverse in their approach to the contest. Congratulations to all and sundry!