Letter: Holy smoke ]

THE appearance of a new American magazine devoted to the appreciation of cigars was deemed worthy of notice on your news pages ('A burning issue', 6 September). Fair enough, but can we be spared the coaching on what we should think about it, and about smoking, and about feminism, and what is generally considered politically incorrect by Michael Leapman? I thought the Independent was born to give the news to people intelligent enough to make up their own minds what they think about it. Or else, let Mr Leapman write a column in which he can preach regularly, and we can choose whether to read it.

Paul Latcham

Eardisley, Herefordshire