PACE TWO
THE BARKER
‘‘DonH Knock The Rocfe”
Jack Paar stood up, walked to the speaker's stand, and said to all
America in a serious voice,
“DON’T KNOCK THE ROCK,
“DON'T KNOCK THE ROCK,
“DONT KNOCK THE ROCK.
“DONT KNOCK THE ROCK.
OH, DON’T KNOCK THE ROCK.”
This was one of the many poetic readings of the lyrics presented on
the “Tonight Show.” Humor, of course, was the purpose of this sketch,
but a number of blase’ critics sighed and said. “That’s funny, but it’s
true.”
They should have heeded Paar’s words, “Don’t Knock the Rock!”
What these and most other narrow-minded enemies of this musical form
do not realize is that rock and roll is a terse and abrupt emotional
expression of teenagers set to appropriate music.
Teenagers have to live in the present, fast and hard, while their fun
as th^^ actions of children, .for in a few years they will be cut
real joys of life and forced into the conformed world of
ago it was jazz; twenty years ago. swing; ten years ago,
today it is the 1957 Ford cruising by the school with the
— blaring out the voice of Fats, or the local drive-in crowded
jiving with Presley. Youth has always loved life and lived it.
^Violence and rebellion — these are said to be part of an attempt for
expression.
Fast music does supply teenagers with a form of physical activity
in this world of cars, trains, big cities, and crowded suburbs. Dancing
is one of the few exercises of the “cat”.
Anti-rock and rollers should get off their “Slow Boat To China and
live and let live.
Hans Conreid stood up, walked to the speaker’s stand, and said to
all America,
“PUT THE CHAIN AROUND MY NECK, AND
LET ME BE YOUR TEDDY BEAR.”
Excused Absence: State Fair
Raleigh is playing host to thousands this week as our capital city
is the scene of the North Carolina State Fair.
This annual affair provides fun and entertainment for many students
from all parts of the state, as well as a valid excuse for being absent
from school.
.^J! types_£)f people are drawn to this spectacle for there is something
of interest for everyone at a fair.
Exhibits are of paramount importance to most farm families. They
have a chance to show off the work of a year, whether it be a prize bull
or a beautiful wardrobe made by an efficient 4-H club member. Aside
from farm exhibits, there are displays and demonstrations of every new
and amazing gadget.
Students are attracted to the Fair by the thrilling and unusual rides.
They like to show their daring and courage by trying out as many of
these roaring monstrosities of machinery as possible.
This year several celebrities have made appearances at the Fair.
Carmel Quinn, the Four Lads, and Julius La Rosa are among the enter
tainers.
At our State Fair there are many sounds uncommon in everyday
life. Walking along the numerous paths, students are almost made deaf
by the whir of the rides, the shouts and screams from the riders, and
the pleading voices of the venders.
Near the Cow Palace noises from the cattle stalls mingle with the
sounds of little children begging their parents for just one more cone
of cotton candy.
Odors are another trademark of the Fair. Everywhere are the odors
of rich, buttery popcorn, fresh candy-covered apples, and cakes and pies
which send fragrant aromas out from the women’s food displays. The
odor of hay and freshly washed cattle dominates the area near the arena.
Also present is the dusty smell made by the thousands of feet trampling
all over the grounds.
All these sounds and sights make for an exciting day which can
only be enjoyed by those who are young at heart.
THE BARKER
Published monthly as the official voice of Williams High School.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Calvin Linnemann
MANAGING EDITOR Wanda Ware
NEWS EDITOR Copland
EDITORIAL STAFF ^ r, u i
Feature Editors Frank Rich, Ruth Lemmons
Society Editor 'vt
BUSINESS STAFF , ,
Circulation Manager Jack Newman
Business Manager
Advertising Manager -
Phnfnoranhers George Best. Lin Puckett
Typists Billie Gray Thomas, Sandra Rackley
assistant editors Phil Deaton, Nancy Lorimer, Ruth Lupton,
Malcolm Kilpatrick, Mike Barham
advisor Booker
Homecoming Festivities
Feature For-Seven Years
In the past seven years, scores of events have been recorded in the
annals of Walter M. Williams High School and none has attracted
greater attention than the activities of Homecoming weekend which draws
a large crowd every year.
In 1956 Mrs. Frances Jamen, Mr.
Weaver Tripp, and Mr. Charles Lew
is of Durham selected Ann Raynor
homecoming queen. Richard Shoe
was her escort, elected by the stu
dents. Gastonia defeated Burlington
by a score of 13-12.
Marianne Mull was selected queen
of homecoming in 1955 by Mrs.
Anne Cantrell White, Mr. Fred W.
Fischer and Mr. Arnold Schiffman,
all of Greensboro. The student body
elected Jim Powell, king. The Bull
dogs were defeated 13-7 by Raleigh.
The Long Walk
BY CLIFTON CATES
The time had come when 1 must
go. Someone had come to escort me
down the hall. As we started on that
long walk, my companion and I
exchanged knowing glances.
As we moved along I could feel
the eyes of friends and relatives upon
me. Some looked in sympathy, others
in understanding of what I was feel
ing at this moment.
As we continued, I thought back
at the times when I had been a gay
young blade. No worries — life
was just one happy song. No more
would the gang and 1 sit in the corn
er drugstore sipping sodas while
whistling at the girls walking past.
Oh, and there was that pretty
blonde 1 had met at the beach last
summer. What a time we had. Would
I ever have such carefree fun again?
Had 1 done the wrong thing? Was
it really my fault? What was ahead
of me, as if I didn’t know. Would
Joe forgive me for what 1 did? Is
this the end of our life long friend
ship? “Oh death, where is thy sting?”
Yes, it is all over now, but I was
not too sad. I had lived my life in
a happy way, and now all that was
through. Why did Joe have to come
along the dark, winding, trail just
then? How was 1 to know he would
be there, thinking of the past, gone
now forever more? What was in our
future? Was there a future for us?
The time was here, we were draw
ing near the finish. My feet were so
heavy 1 could hardly put one in front
of the other.
My heart was pounding; my breath
came hot and shallow; my throat
felt parched.
A man in black stood before us
and said .something 1 didn’t hear.
Why did he have to talk so long,
why couldn’t he stop? Then 1 re
membered “A coward dies a thousand
deaths, a brave man only one.”
The man in black turned and look
ed at me and said, “Frank, do you
take Mary to be your wedded wife?”
Barbara Miles was chosen to reign
in 1954 by Mrs. Kay Kyser, noted
model and wife of famed band leader;
Mr. and Mrs. Carleton Noell of
Rocky Mount; and Miss Lucille Lan-
telme, a New York television actress.
Jerry Long was elected king. The
homecoming game was lost to Salis
bury.
In 1953 Marian Lorimer was se
lected by Universal International stars
Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis to reign
as homecoming queen. The students
elected Edward Webster king. The
football game with Greensboro was
won by the home team by 14-13.
Yvonne Buff and Ray Barts were
chosen queen and king of homecoming
in 1952. Writers James Street and
Paul Green selected Yvonne from a
group of five finalists. Ray was elect
ed by the student body. At the game
Salisbury triumphed over Burlington
22-7.
The 1951 homecoming was the first
to be held at Walter Williams High.
The queen and king were selected
by the popular vote of the student
body. Results of the voting were not
announced until halftime at the game.
Carrie Trollinger and Lacy Hall
reigned over the Homecoming activ
ities. That night saw a victory of
14-6 over arch-rival Greensboro.
There have been only a few home
comings held at Walter Williams, but
every year adds another entry to the
record. Past homecomings are oc
casions to remember in years to
come.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1957
Students Discuss
School Marriages
Opinions were given by a repre
sentative group of Williams High
students on high school marriages
during a survey made by The Bark
er .staff this week.
Opinions expressed by the students
are as follows;
I think that the boy ought to be
at least out of high school and have
a good job. The girl ought to be at
least a senior and be mature enough
to accept the full responsibilities of
marriage. —Paul Ellis
I think high school marriages are
foolish. They have no place in high
school. —Mary Anne Latta
In my opinion, people who marry
while in high school should be ex
ceptionally mature. I don’t bcliere
high school students are m a tu r e
enough to meet difficulties in mar
riages. 1 am neither for nor against
young marriages except in my own
life, as I believe this is everyone’s
personal decision. —Pat Newton
In most cases I don’t think it
works out too well. It interfers with
school, in that in many ca.ses the boy
has to quit school and get a job to
support his family. —Delores Long
Marriage is an institution which
should be studied and planned very
carefully. It is supposed to last a
lifetime. I believe time is an impor
tant element in deciding and plan
ning marriages. 1 do not believe that
high school students have had the
proper time to decide definitely about
marriage. —Frank Rich
I refuse to answer on the grounds
that it might incriminate me —Jerry
Ilollifield
If a person wants to continue
school after he is married 1 think
that he certainly should be given
the opportunity to do so. —Faye
Jones
I don’t approve of high school
marriages at all, because students still
have, childish ideas. I think they^
should wait until after graduation.
—Johnnie Jean Stephens
I do not approve of high school
marriages. A boy who is in high
school can not support a wife or a
family. —Harriet Lee
When asked my opinion of this
subject, 1 must say that upon first
thought it could prove unwise. I
think, however, if two people can
come to a mature understanding of
what problems they will face in a
marriage under these circumstances,
they further realize the primary im
portance of acquiring an education.
—Mrs. Eve Poythress
I think if a couple feels they are
mature enough to become husband
and wife and are equally intent to
remain with each other the rest of
their lives, marriage is the only an
swer. Young marriages can not be
entirely all wrong for statistics show
that some have succeeded. —Sandra
Rackley
There is a place for high school
marriage if the people concerned
are mature enough to accept the re
sponsibilities of marriage —Brenda
Butler
I think that if you really love
someone, you can wait until after
graduating because your high school
education is very importapt. —San
dra Kay Wood
High school is a place for social
and mental growth. Age is not im
portant, but only when a person is
mature enough to think of the future
and to consider intelligently the con
sequences of such a step is he ready
for marriage. —Ranny Umberger
1 may be old-fashioned, but 1 think
it is best to have a high school educa
tion before undertaking anything so
serious as matrimony. — Carolyn
Dunn
Marriage can wait until after one’s
graduation from high school. If you
are really going to enjoy your high
school career, there is no time for
marriage.—Linda Minton