May 1, 1959
THE SKIRL
PAGE 3
Food For Thought
All We Have to Fear is Fear
Itself
by Rebecca McCoy
Most Americans today ac
knowledge that Franklin D.
Roosevelt’s statement, “All we
have to fear is fear itself” is
true. They are willing to accept
this largely because of Roose
velt’s personal life — his abili
ty to overcome his own private
fear that he would not be phys
ically able to serve as the Presi
dent of the United States for
the American' people. Yet the
majority of the people of the
world are, at this moment, fill
ed with fear — fear of war,
world-wide Communistic rule,
hunger ,or another “great de
pression.” We are afraid of the
future and of what it holds for
us as individuals and as a group.
From what source does this
fear arise? The answer is igno
rance. If we were asked what
causes any one of the things
that we are fearing, we would
have to shake our Iheads and re
spond that we do not know. Cer
tainly this is logical, for if we
knew the cause then we should
be able to plan some solution
to keep the issue from becoming
a reality. Alas, when fear con
trols one, there is no ability to
think clearly. Fear also takes
a strong grip on its victim.
Only last winter there was an
“Asian Flu” epidemic almost
nationwide. It began by con
quering only one individual. By
contact that person communicat
ed. it to others. Fear is even
more contagious than “Asian
Flu,” but it too had begun with
just one individual. We do not
know who the first person who
contracted “Asian Flu” was, nor
do we know who the first indi
vidual to become obsessed with
this dreaded anxiety was. That is
irrelevant except that we must
see that the solution to conquer
ing fear lies not in finding who
first had it but in stopping it
before it reaches its disastrous
climax. Scientists (had a knowl
edge of the proper medicine to
prevent and thus overcome
"Asian Flu.” Knowledge and
isolation of those who had “bad”
cases of “Asian Flu” saved Am
ericans from this physical ill
ness.
What will save the people of
the world today from the con
trolling grip of fear? I believe
that those who are dominated
by fear must be isolated if we
are to save ourselves. The only
other solution is to spread truth
everywhere, for truth destroys
fear.
What An Education Means To Me
by Betty Ruth Barker
Education is a- difficult word
to define) for it covers many
phases of life. To some it has
no meaning other than to spend
a few years in grammar school
and then marry. In my life it
has an entirely different mean
ing. Within me is a genuine de
sire to reach forth and to grasp
hold of every opportunity that
arises and to apply myself in
such a way that I might profit
from each experience with which
I am confronted.
To me an education grants
the precious opportunity of un
derstanding people. It often
seems that the more I learn
the more capable I become of
others who are confused and
uncertain about the various
fears of life. I find that as I
learn the desire grows deeper
to be kinder and truer to those
who have so little. This is real
ized as I stand in awe before
tihose I may be seeking to un
derstand. Through my own ed
ucation, I realize that many
people might have become
great and might have contribu
ted much to the world if the
needs of the world were not far
too vague. Thus, the opportunity
which is mine of receiving an
education must be used to help
people find themselves.
I feel that to acquire an edu
cation there is a great deal that
a person must sacrifice. To me
it means accepting the fact that
there are numerous things in
life that I must be willing to
do, though I may not wish to.
I must be wiUing to understand
that the basic subjects that are
required, in order to do wlhat I
would like to do in the future
are important. I must sacrifice
my desire to do other things
and put my time on that which
is required.^ Not only does it
mean a sacrifice of time but also
a sacrifice of parties, ballgames,
and sometimes friends and
family. It takes time to acquire
an education, and I feel that one
has to be willing to take that
time and to do the work each
day that must be done.
To me an' education also
brings to a mind a vision — a
vision of the goal for which I
strive. It means that with hard
work and a dedicated self I
may someday and somewhere ar
rive at my destination. Yes, ed
ucation involves sacrifice, work,
struggles, problems, and even
temptations, but the reward will
come if we await and prepare
for that day with patience.
The wondrous thing about an
education is that no matter
where I go or what I do, I can
always take it with me. By hav
ing it with me at all times, I
am aware that those wlho pass
my way may, perhaps, be a
little more richer and happier
for the influence which I leave
with them.
What Would We Do
Without You,
Susie And Ruby?
by Marion Davis
rather small lady, dressed
in a blue and white uniform,
makes her way toward the en
trance by way of the gate, then
turns to the right to avoid it. She
keeps her steady pace down the
street and across the grass, all
the time with a particular desti
nation in mind. She has been away
for two hours, downtown pterhaps,
or maybe she has stolen a few
moments at home. It is ten min
utes until the hour of four. She
must be there by four and with
out fail she will be there. This
little lady is none other than Su
sie Vinner, who is well-known and
I liked back in the kitchen, especiai-
Education is indeed something
to strive for and to live for. My ly jjy jjjg tablegirls.
prayer is one of praise to God
that He has given me an under
standing of the need for knowl
edge and dedicated lives in this
confused and troubled world of
today. I shall ever strive to learn
more and to give more as I
realize the greatness of knowl
edge and as I seek to find my
place in this troubled world.
Six Named To
Honor Society
Epidemic Sweeps Southern College
by Linda Phillips
A recent news broadcast over
FMC-TV reported that a semi
crippling epidemic was sweeping
over the campus of one of our
small southern colleges. The local
doctors have been called in to
diagnose the fever and we are
including the statement which they
have submitted to the authori
ties of the stricken school. The
doctors have said that the disease
is apparently more prevalent
among young people between the
ages of eighteen and twenty-two.
However, the disease has report
edly struck a few older adults
who had been' closely associated
with the stricken young pe.ople.
The doctors also say the dis
ease is curable only in its very in-
sipient stages. Once it has gained
a foothold, the fever is almost
impossible to cure, even with our
modern miracle drugs. We have
included the combined diagnosis
and report of the doctors in the
hope that it will help our cam
pus to prevent an outbreak of a
similar epidemic.
Symptoms are different with
each person but the general de
bilitating effects are the same.
Some of the symptoms listed by
the doctors as being most com
mon are as follows:
(1) A feeling akin to that caus
ed by creeping encaphalitis (sleep
ing sickness). The victim feels
drugged and is unable to shake
off this lethargy for any length
of time. There Ts a great re
duction, therefore, in one’s ability
to concentrate or focus one’s at
tention on any subject requiring
clear thought.
(2) A nagging fatigue which
saps all one’s energy and strength.
Any strenuous physical exercise
leaves the victim in a state of
near exhaustion from which he can
recover only a/ter frequent and
prolonged periods of rest. So far,
understanding the problems of no tonic has been found which
wiU relieve this symptom, close
ly akin to the effects of severe
[ anemia.
Perhaps the most baffling of all
the symptoms of the disease is
the psychological effect which it
has upon the victims, particular
ly upon the young people. They
are left with no desire or incen-
.tive to work at anything. Although
they retain the feeling that they
'Should do their best work in spite
of their illness, they seem utterly
lacking in their capacity to do so.
The doctors are considering the
possibility that this psychoilogi-
cal effect may be a result of the
physically run-down condition of
those who are stricken.
These symptoms, together with
others which vary with the indi
vidual, are usually felt by all
who contract the disease and are
usually present from the very
earliest stages. Doctors are still
not certain what the disease is,
but after much observation and
consultation they set forth the hy
pothesis that is a rare tropicajl
fever known as Feverus springus.
Because little is known about
the disease, doctors can offer very
few suggestions as to its treat
ment. The cause is unknown;
therefore, there are no known
preventative measures which can
be taken.
Suggestions for treatment of the
fever are .... Oh my goodness!
I forgot what the announcer
said. Oh well, don’t let Feverus
springus hit you!
On Tuesday morning, April
14, Dr. Frontis W. Johnston,
dean of the Davidson College
faculty, delivered the annual
chapel service address for the
tapping of new members into
the Flora Macdonald Honor So
ciety.
Dr. Jolhnston was introduced
by Dr. Price H. Gwynn, Jr. His
address was based on “The
Paradox of Education.”
The three seniors tapped into
the society were: Elizabeth Ann
Clark of Jackson Springs, Jan
ice Gore of Ash, a first semes
ter graduate, and Marion' Mc
Gill Jackson of St. Pauls.
Three juniors also have the
same honor. They are: Cecilia
Heins of Greeleyville, S. C., Jo
sephine Campbell of Laurinburg,
and Martha Stevenson of States
ville, president.
Susie is a resident of Red
Springs, her home located near
the armory. She has one daugh
ter and a grandson who hve in
Newark, New Jersey. She is al
ways more than happy to see j
Easter, the fourth of July, and
Christmas because on these three . “Be not angry that you can-
occasions her loved ones come l^ot make others as you wish them
to visit her. She spent a week since you cannot make your-
David Grayson
I wish some of the ardent ad
visers of the human race would
read a certain passage in Thom-
a’ Kempis:
Marlene Dietrich:
Every human being is in need
of talking to somebody. In this
country nobody has time. It seems
that talking to a friend has gone
out of style. Now you have to
pay money to go to an analyst.
(Reader’s Digest)
with them in 1957 when her grand
child was bom.
On Halloween Day of this year
Susie will complete her twelfth
year of service in the college
kitchen. She has cooked for many,
many girls who have com© and
gone, who will not forget the lus
cious taste of her hot biscuits.
As for the table girls with whom
she comes in contact three times
each day, she says, “I have a lot
of fun with them.”
Susie specializes in the making
of biscuits, rolls, combread, pie
crust and cake. To her comes the
self as you wish to be.”
(Reader’s Digest)
Mrs. Gambill nice to work with.
Bustling about in the daily rou
tine of activity in the kitchen, Su
sie remains a very lively, ener
getic, and amiable person.
Another popular person in the
kitchen is Ruby Johnson who has
been working faithfully for six
teen years, so long that without
her the kitchen would not be the
same. She came even before Mrs.
Gambill arrived to take over as
question from the table girls so dietitian. Concerning her work she
many times — “What kind ofl^ays, “I like it fine and the girls,
bread do we have for supper, Su- too.” She finds working with Mrs.
sie?” Of course, if anyone knows,
she does. The girls come asking
to get the biscuits to carry out
only to hear her traditional reply—
“I’m ready but Mrs. Gambill’s
not.” Then Mrs. Gambill gives the
word to go ahead, and Susie very
skillfully divides out the bread,
whatever it may be, putting eight
pieces in each plate.
The specialist in making breads
enjoys her work although she has
off only 'two hours each day from
two to four o’clock and one Sun
day each month. Besides, she finds
Gambill enjoyable also.
In the kitchen she does almost
anything, but she especially loves
to make the salads. In addition
to the salads she acts as an as
sistant to Susie in making the
breads.
At home Ruby resides on the
Lumberton highway out of Red
Springs. She has a son and a two-
year-old grandson who live with
her. She looks forward to being
off on Sunday afternoons and one
Sunday each month so that she
can be home.
y«5KifS«f:
Susie and Ruby dish out bread to table girls.