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THE BLACKBIRD, ROCKY MOUNT HIGH SCHOOL
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1952
‘To The Voters Belongs The Candidate
“To the victor belongs the spoils." That might be
changed to “To the voters belongs the candidate.” A per
son who is running for an office may have plenty of friends
who are supporting him. However, unless these friends be
come voters on election day, their support has been worth
less.
Do voters realize the power they have w'hen they go
to the polls? Do they use this power and privilege to the
best advantage? It seems that someone is doing these
things, for all the offices are filled. Many national offices
are filled by corrupt politicians, as many critne surveys
are showing. How did t'hese “gangsters” get there? “You
can’t blame me,” said one man, “I didn’t even vote.” Does
that relieve him of the blame? The “gangster,” at least,
exercised his privilege.
In the school election that has just passed, only a hand
ful of voters turned out at the polls. These people are the
ones who elected our officers. They were interested in
the final results. Maybe, the elected officers aren’t the
ones all of the students wanted, but did all the students
vote? Maybe one of the defeated candidates would have
won if his friends had turned voters on election day.
Why Follow The Gang?
Recently, a high school junior was trying to tell her
mother that she had started smoking.
She used this approach:
“Mother, do you know that Betty smokes?”
“Yes, dear.”
“Do you know that Mary does too?”
“Yes, dear, you told me.”
“Well, do you know that both George and Donald
amoke.”
“Yes, but they seem like nice boys.”
“Well, Mother, I smoke too.”
This girl w^as right in tellin'g her mother that she
smoked, but her approach was all wrong. She seemed to
think that because her friends smoked, it was all right for
her to smoke too. She was doing nothing more than follow
ing the gang.
Many teenagers will say that to be popular you have
to follow the gang. One definition of popularity is in-
dividualisim. The gang w^ill like a person just as much if he
doesn’t smoke—maybe more. However, the non-smoker
shouldn’t take a I’^m-better-than-you-are,-because-I-don’t-
smoke attitude and look down his nose on those who do.
If a teenager has his parent’s permission and honestly
enjoys smoking, that is strictly a family affair. However,
two things that can’t be stressed enough are “Don't smoke
just because the gang does” and “Remember the correct
places for smoking.”
BYRDS Convene
in VANN On HILL
The names in RMHS have an
interesting story behind them. For
instance this story was told to me
at the annual BYRD'S convention.
There was an old VANN which
was WHEELESS on the HILL and
many of the BYRDS built nests and
made their HOLMES there. In the
back corner was the nest of the
ENGLISH WRENNS and two
LITTLE ROBBINS lived in the
middle. The FINCHES lived near
the door and everyone was one
GAY family. One GRAY day, Mr.
FINCH fell in a PITT and drown
ed and Mrs. FINCH went LOON
EY. The ROBBINS separated and
moved into two BARNES.
The WRENNS, making the
BEST of things, thought it would
be DIVINE to be alone. They stole
two MAPLES and a ROSE from a
GARDNER and planted them.
While they were looking for
MOORE plants in the WOODS, Mr.
WRENN fell on a BLOUNT object
and was HURT. It was a RIDDLE
to Mrs. WRENN how it happened.
While they were away, some
SELLERS came to sell the VANN.
The two LITTLE WRENNS had to
move into WEBB HALL, the old
BYRDS HOLMES.
You may think this tragedy is
a lot of BULL but it’s true.
How One Lie Hurts
“Ho.w could it hurt if I tell just one?” The boy sat
with head bowed, worried whether to tell the truth or not.
He was worried over whether just one lie would hurt,
would his Mother find out, or, worse yet, would it lead to
a succession of lies—each worse than the one before it?
If only this boy—and others like him—could realize
that only by telling the truth are we free from worry! By
telling the truth w^e knov/ that whatever the consequences,
we have a clear conscience that we’ve done the right thing.
If the truth hurts, a lie hurts more and more, and the hurt
is more lasting—Truth brings relief!
THE BLACKBIRD
Official Publication of
Rocky Mount High School
Member ef the
Colnmbia Scholastic Press Association
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor-in-Chief Fred Patton
Assistant Editor 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 Business Manager Donald Bryan
Circulation Manager ■. Marilyn Ezzelle
Assistant Circulation Manager Sonny Hallford
Advertising Manager Claranda Mangum
Assistant Advertising Manager & Typist Jane EMwards
FACULTY ADVISER MRS. T. D. YOUNG
Published fourteen times during the year fey the Journalism Class
of Rocky Mount High School.
Subscription Rate
Editor's Mailbag
Dear Editor, .
Why can’t I ever get an athletic,
boy friend ? I’m tired of pip
squeaks.
Shelia R.
Shelia,
Go to all the^gahies and i^aybe
you’ll find one remaining around.
Luck to you!
Editor
Look! I Caught One!! (Yes, DO Look!)
4
Get That fUm — Dogpatch Style!
Down in the village of Dogpatch
the women really have the right
idea. If they haven’t received a
proposal (of marriage) by the
spring of the year, they have a
big race, the object of which is to
catch a man. This is the famous
Sadie Hawkins Day and all single
people participate (some by force).
The men are allowed a fair
chance, with perhaps a two minutes
start on the women. But they are
as good as gone; for when those
women see the handsome men, it
encourages them to run faster and
faster.
The race continues all day with
the women having to give up if they
haven’t caught and dragged the
men across the finish line by sun
down. If a man is lucky enough
to have escaped them all day, he
can come on in then — knowing
he’ll be free till the next year.
All women who haven’t caught
a husband by sundown go home —
to start training for next year.
Training includes the lifting of
dumbells (for muscles to get the
heavy ones), running (for fast
ones), and numerous deceitful tricks
designed to help any woman get a
man.
Dogpatch women could teach
the rest of the women this one
trick — the best way to get a man
is to grab him and hold on! How
ever, this doesn’t guarantee keep
ing him.
Dear Editor,
I want to win more games! What
can be done to help me?
Coach Lundy
Coach,
Ask Everette—maybe he had
some boys around 6’5” for spare.
Editor
Dear Editor,
Why isn’t this a more interest
ing paper?
James J.
James,
Look at the staff.
Editor
Dear Editor,
Why can’t I make passing
grades? My parents are tired of
E’s.
Tommy Slater
Tommy,
If you) would study more and
flirt less, you’d make straight A’s.
Try it!
Editor
Pass Your Driver’s Test? And How!!
Dear Editor,
Why haven’t you a love-lorn
column? I need' help.
Barbara
Barbara,
So do we!
Editor
Dear Editor,
Why does one of my students go
to sleep during first period every
day?
A Teacher
Dear Teachei*,
Maybe he gets sleepy!
Editor
What now? Just answer these!
questions ? All right. Got a pencil ?
Thanks. Number one — let’s see
now. Da, da, da, dee—^Wonder what
number nine is? Hmm-mn-mn.
Here you are, officer, all through.
(A few minutes pass during which
the officers check the answers),
Did I really miss six? What’s
next? Take a road sign test? No,
I don’t wear glasses. Whatcha think
I am, a creep? Wait, don’t answer
that. (A few minutes pass). Got
’em all right, you say? Well, I’m
not surprised. Are you ?
When do I drive? Now? Get my
father to sign for me, hub? Why?
I can write, you know. Oh, all
right. Hey, Pop! Come here and
make your x for this nice officer.
Give me the keys, too. Ready to go ?
Here’s my car. No, I’m not nervous.
Are you?
AVhat First
What do we do first? Parallel
park? Between those two poles?
Now, let’s see-turn my wheels this
way, now that way. Oops, did I
hit something? Oh, it didn’t fall.
Just wobbled back and forth. Made
it! What now? Go out on the high
way? Well, here we are. Turn left?
Oops, didn’t see that car. You can
open your eyes now. Officer, I made
it.
Back! Stop! Start! Railroad cross
ing! Back into that road! Slow
down for that school! Turn around
and go back to the station! WelU
that was fast, wasn’t it? I didn’t
think it would be so easy. What’s
the matter, Officer? You look kinda
green and about ten year* older.
Must be something you ate. Here,
I’ll help you: out of the car.
Now, You’re Back
Here we are. Back in your little
office.
Did I pass? I did! Hey, Poip, I
passed! Come help him. Pop, I think
he’s going to faint. Just keep this
receipt until my license comes ?
All right. Well thank you, sir. I
hope you feel better. I’ll tell all my
friends to ask for you when they
come for their license.
Oops, didn’t mean to slam the
door! Did he say something. Pop?
I wonder what’s wrong with him.
He seemed all right when I came
out here. Oh, well, that’s old folks
for you. You never can tell what
they’ll do next!
Smiles Gome Gheap
It costs nothing but creates
much.
It enriches those who receive it
without impoverishing those who
give. _ '
It happens m a flash, and the
memory of it sometimes lasts for
ever. •
None are so rich that they can
get along without it; and none are
so poor but are richer for itsf
benefit
.... If at sometime you meet some
one who fails to give you a smile,'
just give one of your own; for noner
need a smile so much as those whoi
have none left to give Ejx->
change.
MtBonic Magfueinft.