Dear Sir,—It has been said by someone that "the path of duty is the way to glory," but in most cases the glory is merely of a private nature. In search of a little extra brilliance for my personal halo, I recently had occasion to attend the Plunket Medal Contest.—Not that the duty was at all one of an onerous nature, in fact, I spent a far more pleasant evening than I anticipated. I noticed, however, that one o rtwo far more notable beings than myself had evidently found the duty one to be shirked. Amongst the audience were many persons well known in the public life of the city, but I failed to notice one single representative of the College staff. Surely this was a most singular lapse. The chairman commented, unnecessarily and in rather bad taste, on the absence of the Governor General, but I am sure that the absence most keenly felt by the members of the Debating Society, in fact by every student present, was that of the Professors. I am informed that the Society had reserved a block of the best seats especially for such of the Professors and their friends as might wish to come, but this block unfortunately remained empty. I am sure that this slight to the students, for such it was, was unintentional, but T feel that it should not be allowed to pass unnoticed.—I am, etc.,

Amicus Victoriae.

Sir,—We hear a great deal of talk about a College House, or Hostel, for V.U.C. students. Many rumours as to its situation and its commencement are afloat. To the students living out in "digs" the idea of a 'Varsity House is very attractive indeed, but it seems to be very remote and very vague. Would it not be possible for Spike, the students' mouthpiece, to make enquiries and to give us some information, on a subject that is of interest to all —I am, etc.,

"Fresher."

Sir,—With regard to the note signed "Fresher," asking for information as to the question of a College hostel for men students, the facts are briefly as follows:—

Under the Will of the late Mr. William Weir a large sum of money was bequeathed to the College for the purpose of a hostel for male students.

The Council has already acquired a site. It has leased from the Hospital page 37 Board a very fine property known as the Martin Kennedy Estate on the other side of Kelburn Park. The property is about two acres in extent and will afford ample room for several hostels.

The Council will not enter into possession of any of the money under the Will until August, 1929. It will not, therefore, be possible to commence building operations until after that date. Meanwhile the Council has not been idle, as the architects have been appointed and designs for the first of the hostel buildings are well on the way.

It is impossible to predict the date by which the hostel will be ready for occupation by students, but it seems unlikely that it will be ready before the session 1931.—I am, etc.,

G. G. S. Robison, Registrar.

In consideration of the fact that the power to gain a high reputation for learning, without an inconvenient amount of swat, is increasingly sought after, the "Spike" has gone to much trouble to get an interview with a man notably successful in this direction. And although our representative found it hard to gain access to this magnate, through a waiting crowd of clients, the great man, once reached, proved both courteous and communicative.

Asked how he would advise an ordinary student to set out on his quest for fame without pains, he replied that a wise concealment of all failures and a careful provision for the greatest possible number to hear of every success were absolutely necessary to start off such a career as his. At the same time, it might also be advisable, in the early stages, even to put a little real work into such exercises as could be most widely known, on the ground that one or two brilliant successes at the beginning are the surest way to win public favour and to make all later "crashes" seem due to ill-luck.

Proceeding, he said that, although a really clever hypnotist might attain great eminence without any taint of swat, the ordinary student would find a due appearance of study very useful. For this end he might choose to haunt the College Library, where a letter or a favourite novel might resemble, even to your nearest neighbour, a psychology paper or a Latin grammar. In passing, he remarked that a studious air and brown paper book-covers might here prove of the greatest service.

A like impression might be spread, he continued, if the student could get embroiled with his land-lady over the burning of midnight oil. Or, if he were boarding with others, turning on the light with a loud click at four o'clock every morning would be still more effective, while a scarf worn round the eyes, unseen by the gullible fellow in the next room, would prevent any loss of sleep.

The great man now declared that one of the most hopeful signs to the seeker after unearned admiration was that his friends should refer to him their difficulties in any subject, whether he has ever taken it or not; for a little ingenuity would make plausible answers easy. Indeed, common sense and interesting vagueness, together with such scattered facts as the idler gleaned from newspapers and historical novels, could make the toughest question just a stepping stone to wider praise.

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Referring, finally, to examinations, where the unromantic judges were content only with exact knowledge of set text-books, he admitted that these were the one great drawback to his cult. Indeed, he went so far as to own that, for a few weeks before his finals, even he himself had been driven to renounce his noble principles and sink to the level of a common swat. On the other hand, however, he concluded with a boast that from that day, although he has risen to the top of his profession, he has never again had to lower himself to such vulgar parrot-work. Which being so, he could not close without calling all ambitious young men and women in our colleges to witness so fine an example of the heights to be attained by those willing to sacrifice all the besetting impulses of a degrading industry, and to give themselves up, mind and soul, to the lofty ideal of toil-free self-advancement.—I am, etc.,

Bluff.