Letter to the Editor

On Iron Fences

Dear Editor:

I have just read the charming article by Lauren Bennett about Back Bay iron fences (August 15).  It’s really wonderful to come across a detailed description of the history and restoration-techniques of beautiful iron fences in Boston, and the distinctions between cast iron and wrought iron (which was new to me).  How delightful to read a well-written piece on so arcane a subject.  One small correction: the phrase “mortise and tenant” should read, of course, “mortise and tenon” (no self-respecting tenant would ever want to be bodily inserted into the joint-cavity of a mortise, no matter how beautiful his or her landlord’s fence might be).

Alan Levitan

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