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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 6, No. 4 April 14, 1943

The Three V's What Are They?

The Three V's What Are They?

We know that V is for Victory, and every one knows Vive la France (under de Gaulle), but the three V's aforementioned are quite extraneous. These three V's contain the whole history of a tremendous event which happened to Victoria, an event akin to the descent of God upon many, something which shook the world:

The first dread rumour of the approaching cataclysm was a notice posted on the boards, warning students to forsake all corridors at 3 o'clock, the seventh day of April— leaving them bare and desolate. Something great and mysterious was going to happen—something which must be unobserved by profaning eyes. The notice was signed by the Principal.

On the Tuesday surprise grew pregnant. On the seventh day of April a new star shone in the heavens; the Chief Librarian had appeared in a blue suit and thus upset the Zodiac. Mr. Hudson was seen to be similarly attired.

Suspense

The suspense became unbearable. What was the terrific calamity, this unseen visitation for which the corridors were made a desert, and for which Mr. Miller had to appear in a blue suit?

In the chem labs, demonstrations were unrecognizable: overalls shone white—and one could scarcely open one's eyes for the dazzle on test tubes and retorts.

What had brought about this metamorphosis in the Stygian depths?

Students worming their way through library tomes were interrupted; they would be asked to stand up; questions might be asked them; they would be civil; Marxist text books would be hidden away. The flat had gone forth indeed.

For whom were they to stand up?

At three o'clock all was in readiness. The corridors were a morgue— in the common rooms card-playing had stopped, hushed voices waited in dread uncertainty.

Just after the hall clock had struck the hour a car drove up—a policeman stood by the door—some people climbed out. It was for them all these notices, all this ceremony, all this pomp, had taken place.

Now can you guess, dear reader, the meaning behind those mystic symbols? Now can you solve the enigma?

The problem is simple: look again!

  • The first V is for Viceroyalty.
  • The second V is for Visits.
  • The third V is Victoria University College.

Weren't you honoured?