Tempest Over High Tea

Susan Spano twice mentions “high tea” in her column about Hillwood (“A Woman Who Brought Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams to Life,” Her World, Dec. 9). I’m certain that brought at least a turn in her grave from Marjorie Merriweather Post.

The faux pas is confusing high tea and afternoon tea. They are very different, but the confusion is common among the uneducated.

High tea is a rural British dinner served around 6 p.m. and consisting of meat, eggs, cheese etc. Afternoon tea is a sophisticated serving (near 4 p.m.) of scones, finger sandwiches, pastries and cakes. No sophisticated establishment or home would serve high tea.

ANDY GILCHRIST

Manhattan Beach

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I appreciate Susan Spano’s candor about misjudging a Democrat for a Republican (Her World, Dec. 9). Stereotypes are difficult to relinquish for most people.

I am a Reform Jewish conservative and have many Jewish friends like me who mainly vote Republican. But we don’t believe that all the good guys are on one side and the rest are all bad.

Thank you for taking an honest look at your own response triggered by the word “Republican.” Politically conservative Jews differ on some issues, such as abortion and capital punishment, but we bond on patriotism, a strong defense, fewer taxes, less regulation and responsible free enterprise.

MIRIAM JAFFE

Thousand Oaks