.jpg)
Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 2, No. 10. June 14, 1939
[introduction]
Three issues ago "Salient" inaugurated a Gossip Column. Since then it has been praised—and condemned. There are those who have smiled on it; there are those who have frowned on it; and some we fear who almost made up their minds to spit upon it. Despite all this, the idea of a Gossip Column is, we feel, on intuitive grounds, a sound one. But even though there is really no need at all to do so, we intend to vindicate ourselves.
Here is an article that sets out with the intention of defending the institution of Gossip and makes a fist of it. May it be enjoyed in the reading.
Let's be honest. When you open your newspaper, as soon as you have made sure that England hasn't declared war, or been bombed, what do you look at? Why, the gossip columns! And as for books, if you had to choose between the serious study and the amusing gossip, say, between Clarendon's History of the Rebellion and John Aubrey's Scandal and Credulities, wouldn't you choose the latter? Of course you would! Who would rather learn the facts of Augustus' imperial policy than discover that he had spots on stomach? No one.