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The Spike: or, Victoria University College Review, September, 1922

The Conversazione

The Conversazione.

Speaking as a more Arts student, with but a very general interest in the cult of the divinity Scientia, we must admit we were vastly intrigued by the Conversazione. The spinal cord of the crayfish-but lot us begin at the beginning;. On Friday, August 18th, with interest properly piqued by the articles in the newspapers and the general atmosphere of delightful expectancy, we made our way to the New Library, of immortal fame, to be present at the formal Opening of the New Wings by His Excellency the Governor-General, Viscount Jellicoe, G.C.B., O.M., G.C.V.O. (quotation from the official programme). His Excellency was late, but of course we were lucky to have him at all. The remarks of the Chairman, Mr. P. Levi, we did not catch. We had no difficulty in catching His Excellency's, however; the quarter-deck manner is very refreshing. Someone had thoughtfully provided him with a copy of "The Old Clay Patch" from which he read suitable extracts, and then formally declared the New Wings well and truly opened for the general use and instruction. Mr. Levi then apologised for the present state of the Memorial Window, which indeed is not a very inspiring sight. Whereupon we advanced unto the Science Wing, and really enjoyed ourselves for a considerable time among the weird contrivances devoted to (a) Geology and Physical Geography, (b) Physics, (c) Botany and Zoology, (d) Chemistry, (e) Mathematics. The working model of the geyser was very spectacular. The X-rays as usual went bung as soon as we appeared. The Ciliated Protozon gave us some hectic moments. The Auditory Region of the Dogfish also provided a spectacle of no mean order. we confess, however, to disappointment in Ubolia, a Marine Animal; we had expected great things from Obolia. Alas! She was deceptive like all her sex. The disseoted Rabbit we were sorry for. The Metallurgical Room first attracted us, and then repelled, by its peculiar variety of odours. The Fluorescent Fountain was a very charming little thing. The intricacies of the Mathematical Exhibits left us, we regret to say, a trifle cold. Our brain stumbled somewhat at the detached and philosophical contemplation of five dimensions. There were many oilier enormously attractive exhibits, which all in their turn hold our riveted attention. They were all engineered and explained entirely by our talented scientific brothers and sisters, whose efforts we cannot praise and admire enough, though frankly, we did not on the whole find them very enlightening. However, the Scientific page 55 Spirit, the idea of pure devotion to Truth as exemplified in the Dog-fish and the Rabbit, is a thing we in our lowliness may hope for not perhaps for a long time. Meanwhile, back we sink to the common round and daily task—wonders have been vouchsafed to us and are no more.