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THE BLACKBIRD, ROCKY MOUNT HIGH SCHOOL
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1951
THE BLACKBIRD
Official Publication of
Rocky Mount High School
Member of th«
Columbia Scholastic Press Association
EDITORIAL STkFF
Editor-in-Chief Fred Patton
Assistant E(^itor Jo Ann Windham
News Editor Sonny Hallford
Sports Editors George Pearce, Marland Reid
Feature Editor Donna Clark
Exchange Editor Wilton Holliday
Literary Editor * Marcia Milne
Columnists & Club Reporters Bobbitt Clay, Barbara Coley
Alumni Reporter Beryl Peters
BUSINESS STAFF
Business Manager Tam Holliday
Assistant JBusiness Manager Donald Bryan
Circulation Manager Marilyn Ezzelle
Assistant Circulation Manager Sonny Hallford
Advertising Manager Claranda Mangum
Assistant Advertising Manager & Typist Jane Edwards
FACULTY ADVISER MRS. T. D. YOUNG
Published fourteen times during the J^ear by the Journalism Class
of Rocky Mount High School.
Subscription Rate $1.00
Volunteer For Death
Lee Wilkins had been a fine young man. Everybody
agreed on that. He had h’ved all his life in Elmsdale where
his father was a lawyer. By the time he graduated from
high school he was recognized as one of the town’s most
popular and outstanding .voung men. Because of his high
average, he was able to go to Bryon College. Here again
he was an outstanding student. When he was a senior, war
broke out. Lee passed a test which deferred hi'm from the
service, thus allowing him to complete his education.
Lee came home one week-end for a short visit. On the
return trip he drove faster than usualy to make up for a
late start. Lee saw the lights of the approaching train and
heard its warning whistle as he neared the crossing. He
knew that it was a freight and would take about ten
minutes to pass. That time was needed for getting back
to school. Lee’s body was removed from his smashed car
late the next day.
Like Lee, many people .forget the power they have
in their control when they get behind the wheel. Cars are
made to get people places safely.
Accidents take a heavier toll of the population th'^n
war does. Unless people learn to obey traffic rules and
regulations, this little epitaph may be found on many
tombstones.
He stepped on the gas,
As a fast train appeared.
Death didn’t draft him.
He volunteered.
Sh! Quiet, Please!
Hello there! How are you today?
I’m feeling fine and fit as a fiddle.
Of course, I usually do. That is, I
usually feel fine in the morning;
but towards the end of the day rhy
spirits are very low.
People visit my home by the
thousands. They go in the door and
out the door. Most people usually
notice me but there are a few who
are so downcast and forlorn look
ing that they never quite get their
heads up high enough to see me.
I am home all of the time. I
know you have seen me, but why
do you never stop to say hello.
Some people stop and even put
their names upon my face. Of
course, tfiis is very rude, but you
know I can’t be too choice in my
selection of friends, so the rude
and the kind are always on my list.
I have to be going now. Import
ant business is waiting for me at
home. Please drop in and see me
real soon. And please pay your
respects to your old friend. For J
am your friend, you know. I’m the
“Quiet, Please!” sign that hangs on
the library wall.
Gan You Clear The Hurdles?
Hallo, Ween
Hi, Jim
Hello, Betty
Hay, Bill
Hallo, Ween
?? Hallo, Ween???
Above are the words of a person speaking to his
friends. Do you wonder why this person said, “Hallo,
Ween!” Can Halloween be a friend?
Halloween is an annual affair. Every year on the 31st
of October everyone celebrates by having a “good time.”
But many of these so-called “good times” wind up regret
ful. So^meone might have brought some unnecessary shame
upon themmselves because they thought too late about
the effects of their “fun.”
A much better time can be had on Halloween without
causing anyone shame or without getting into mischief.
A person using some of these many harhiful ways of hav
ing fun on Halloween may keep out of trouble have more
fun than ever, and may make Halloween a friend.
Corner Cleanup
In the schools of today, young people are in training
for life’s work. Some of these people are going to further
their education by g'oing to college and others are going
to start work as soon as they graduate.
Maybe these come about by lack of training, but in
some cases stubborness is the main cause. Wrong impres
sions are made of well-be-haved students through the
unmannerly conduct of others. A good cleanup of the
“comers” that were missed in the last Good Sports cam
paign might help matters to a certain extent but a good
inside cleanup would be more effective.
What Day Is It?
One day of the year is set aside
which young and old enjoy,
From the oldster living on the
farm to each young girl and
boy.
The youngsters dress in costume
while the old folks shout with
glee;
Remembering the time when they
themselves were naughty as
could be.
Of course, you can guess which day
it is, as it wouldn’t be very
very hard.
For on that night old gates and
trash are strewn in every
yard.
A parade is held on Main street and
goblins and witches are seen- -
You guessed it right the fir^t
time—yes, it’s Halloween.
By Marcia Milne
SOPHOMnap
Some Are Mean!
Witches on broomsticks riding
around,
Everything quiet; you don’t
hear a sound.
On the fence you see an old black
cat.
Then from the alley flies a bat.
Pumpkins in windows with their
faces so bright;
Here comes little Johnny,
He’s dressed up in white.
There are ghosts, skeletons, and
devils in red.
What is this? It has no head!
Some are good; some are mean.
Let’s do the right things on Hallo
ween.
By Jane Edwards
Fishes Are Birds
What a strange bird the fish are.
He ain’t got no hands or a tail
hardly. When he swims he swims
with what he ain’t got—hardly.
The fish ain’t got no legs neith
er. When he stands up he lays
down almost.
There is all kinds of fishes, Iiig
fishee, little fishes, c^at fishes,
horse fishes, gold fishes, and
whales. (Whales is not fishes, they
is whales.)
I don’t think there- is as many
big fishes as-there is little fishes,
‘cause the big fishes eats the little
ones before they get big*. Then peo
ple catches the big fishes. But the
Want A Date?
FOR GIRLS
1. Always be late getting dressed.
Boys may pretend to be annoyed
but they really enjoy waiting,
especially if they don’t know
your family.
2. Be sure to talk about your other
dates—a boy likes to know you
can drop him any time you feel
like it.
3. It is an unpardonable mistake
not to spend as much money as
possible. A boy likes for a girl
to spend his week’s salary or al
lowance in one night.
FOR BOYS
1. Never be definite about where
you are going—girls think it’s
fun to go skating in an evening
dress.
2. If a girl says she looks awful,
agree with her and avoid an
argument.
3. Use as many ‘cuss’ words as
possible. Your date will really
think you are a man about town!
4. Don’t open the door for your
date or anything like that. Do
you want her to think you’re a
sissy ?
I personall guarantee you that if
you follow these tips, you will have
no dating worries, in fact, you will
have no dates.
I Made It That Time
John screeched around the cor
ner, hia car leaning like a Tilt-a-
Whirl. As the car became upright
again and careened down the road,
he looked back and laughingly said,
“Well, we made it that time, boys.”
The boys continued their merry
ride, up hill and down hill, around
cui-ves, passing on the wrong side,
not bothering to stop for signs or
lights.
Each time they were successful
in their fun John would say, ‘We
madf it that time.”
Suddenly there was a car turn
ing out of a side road where no
car was expected, a thunderous
sound, a flash of light, and sudden
stillness.
“I made it that time,” said death.
biggest one always gets away,
which is a good thing. ‘Cause if the
biggest one didn’t get away, there
wouldn’t be no big fishes to eat
the little fishes, and then all the
little fishes would get to big and
starve to death, ‘cause there would
n’t be no little fishes to eat.
Wanna Win
Everyone wants ta win—win
honors, win prizes, just win in gen
eral. United States is an entire na
tion which wants to win. The stu
dents of Rocky Mount high school
are no different and there are some
winners here of whom the school is
proud.
, Winner number one is the Hi-
Noc-Ar of 1950-1951 with a one rat
ing. The honor was well deserved
and the staff, under the editorship
of John Page, and the advisers rate
a pat on the back. The goal is an
other one rating for 1951-52 and,
of course, the staff wants to win.
Johnny Johnson, representative
to the national Red Cross Conven
tion also is a credit to Rocky Mount
high school. By accepting this hon
or he also accepted the responsi
bility of representation.
Speaking of representation the
student council has winners in that
field. These three students will see
to it that Rocky Mount high scTiool
is well represent^ at the Student
Council Congress in Greensboro.
Characters in the dramatic de
partment’s production of “Jo’s
Boys” are winners. Their glory
will not shine until much hard work
is put in and the play is presented.
Responsibility to do their best goes
with their winning of the roles in
the play.
Another honor, but also a large
undertakinf, came to pledges of the
Good Sports Club. It took work to
get those bids and, as we can see by
the results of their projects, the
work does not end there.
Sports! That brings up the foot
ball team. Those boys are winners
if there ever were any. Win, or
lose, or draw, the Blackbirds are
always winners in sportsmanship
and in the eyes of their Rocky
Mount high fans.
The most recent winners are
those taken into the National
Honor Society. The honor js theirs
because they deserve it through
their grades, and qualities of lead
ership, character and service. It’*
a well known fact around here
that good grades don’t merely
exist; study is the supporting beam
and those seniors must have real
ized it.
Winning work, and responsibil
ity go hand in glove and it looks
Ifke Rocky Mount high school has
a big hand' in that glove.
Still ‘wanna win’? Of course!