Out in the Open

Sir,—As one of Mr. Donovan's select, self-possessed and most reasonable of gentlemen, or more correctly, as an aspirant to such august company I find that forages from my ivory tower are becoming so numerous my friends seldom find me within the portals.

Now this state of affairs has followed my realisation at an early date that man does not live by bread and dripping alone and that the Arts offered a whole new world of experience and enlightenment. I determined to get a thin veneer of culture as soon as possible and so began investigating the various sources available within the University.

The notice board proved the key to everything: here I found I could harmonise with the Glee Club every Tuesday night, argue in the affirmative or negative with the Debating Society every other week, or try my hand at acting, producing or stage managing, not to mention becoming make-up or scenery expert, stage hand or electrician in the Drama Society. Well now, I found all this most stimulating, there being no end to the possibilities.

However, in time I found that whereas most of the main clubs and societies had set aside fixed nights in every week for their meetings, others organised important meetings and lectures in a most erratic manner. Thus on Wednesday evening. June 17. I found I could indulge myself in "Some Moral Paradoxes" with Prof. Hughes, or partake of the Macmillan Brown lecture on the "Novel." delivered by Prof. I. A. Gordon. For one in my position both of these lectures would prove invaluable, as it was I was reduced to tossing a coin in order to decide which one to attend ( man must have a scapegoat).

Must such duplication exist, would it not be possible to establish a liaison between the various groups concerned, with a view to creating some order out of the chaos I feel sure, planned proceedings would benefit both societies and members.

Oh, and there is also the public to be considered I happened to be standing undecidedly at the notice board Wednesday last, lamenting the situation audibly, when I was Joined by a prominent local citizen and critic, known only as H.P. to most.

We commiserated [unclear: thus like] two Jews at Jerusalem's Wafting Wall when he finally burst out wit much feeling. "A terrible blunder, sir."

There now.

Bartholomew.