approa^ch of the Christmas season students are beginning to form their
towards this joyous season which is one of the happiest times of the
y6«ir.
symbolizes the birthday of Christ. It is a season of spiritual closeness
thSw to birthday is a time to receive gifts for themselves, to
their own enjoyment, and to “let go” and relax, forgetting the
hP wf H Such an attitude is not the true spirit of Christmas, as it
Should be His day, not ours.
sonahtv Sp/p symbol of the spirit of giving. His jovial, happy, and eager per-
i fun and joy one receiiV'es when he gives. Today, however, mer-
'^'^si'^essmen have taken ole St. Nick and made him into a sales attraction
Nowadays some merchants place Christmas wreaths, holly, and other such deco-
t^n nf ^ Thanksgiving holidays to draw to the atten-
ThP t f 1 nearing and that it’s time to begin shopping.
The familiar term for this is commercializing.”
“Commercializing” defeats the purpose of Christ’s birthday. Even on Christmas
cards the spirit of the season is removed when gay cherubs, bells and other “cute”
drawings that have no relation to the birth of Christ adorn the covers
This year the local Merchants Association, for the first time in three vears vntPrf
to wait until after Thanksgiving to put up the Christmas decorations and bec'in nd
vertising the Christmas ‘specials.” This was done ^ith the Idea of sfoppSg to^ it
prevalent at Christmas time between Rocky Mo^t
B.nd other eastern Caiolina cities, as well as local businessmen
RiOcky Amount is making an attempt to observe the season it v\a
operating with the local Merchant and Ministerial Associations in their p?oje?te we
^oughoutth?X'’'"''^‘=‘'°°' students in promoting the proper Christmi Spirit
We are at the age when we should begin to put less emphasis on the receiving nf
gifts and to put more spiritual emphasLs on Chiistmas ecemng of
At Thanlagiving we gave thanks to God for all our numerous blessings At Christ-
opportunity to celebrate with Him the birthday ^ the greatest
gift He has given us Chiist, His son, and our Saviour.
THE
BLACKBIRD
Published by Journalism Class of Rocky Mount Senior High School
VOLUME XXVI
_ROCKY_jlOUg^^ N. 0. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16. 1954 NUMBER 4
‘Spirit’ Is Success
Gene Arnold Stars
‘Blithe Spirit,” the first produc
tion of the Edsonians for the sea
son, was presented Friday night,
December 10, in the high school
auditorium.
As the curtain opened on the
•first act at 8:15, seven students
hnd tneir lirst taste oX the thiiil
of opening night. This was also
the first play the dramatics teach
er, Mrs. Jackie Hathcock, had
produced in Rocky Moxmt.
Leading roles wtre played by
Gene Arnold and Peggy Jones as
Mr. and Mi's. Charles Condomine.
Other characters in order of their
appearance were Myra Floyd,
Edith the maid; Bill Toler and
Norma Savage, Dr. and Mrs.
Bradman; Lucinda Oliver as Ma
dam Arcati. The Voice of Daphne,
a spirit from the other world, was
Doris Cooper.
After the performance. Gene
Arnold, president of the Edson
ians, presented Mrs. Hathcock
with an arm bouquet of red roses
In appreciation for her time and
effort in putting on this produc
tion. After make-up had been re
moved and costumes put away,
the cast and production crew had
a party at the teen-age club.
There were plenty of “eats and
drinks” for all. After the party got
onderway, the cast called every
one to attention and presented
Mrs. Hathcock with a silver disk
bracelet with the inscription,
“Blithe Spirit, 1954.”
Plans are already onderway for
the second production which will
take place sometimes in February.
As of now, no definite arrange
ments have been made.
Clubs Sponsor Projects
Several high school organiza
tions are taking advantage of op
portunities to help others with
gifts and contributions as their
projects during the Christmas sea
son.
Each year the welfare depart
ment announces a list of families
who need help. Anyone wishing to
adopt a family during this holi
day could take someone from this
list. In the local high school the
Musettes and Miss Alma Murchi
son’s sophomore homeroom have
taken advantage of this and
taken families. This program
brings Christmas to families who
would not have it without this
help.
A common way of helping
others is the purchasing of Christ
mas seals which will be mailed out
I to every family in Rocky Mount.
' Money from these seals furthers
the fight against tuberculosis.
Local Jaycees are having a
Cui¥c to ociicxt toys cioth5“„ (#i‘
food for needy families of this
community. They have been work
ing through churches, schools and
civic clubs to raise these articles.
Other civic clubs will be spon
soring drives to collect articles of
clothing, food and toys. They will
distribute these among the needy
families. Church groups will be
visiting the hospitals and offer
ing their services in that way.
These are only a few of the
golden opportunities awaiting the
people of this community.
Erwin Robbins, ‘Miss Print’
Students Plan Christmas Dance
To start off the holidays, the
social committee of the student
organization is making plans for
its annual Christmas dance to
morrow night in the school cafe
teria from 9 p. m. to 1 p. m.
Invitations are ready for every
student in school, and special in
vitations for guests may be ob
tained from Miss Kate Parks
Kitchen. Social committee mem
bers have .spent much hard work
and time into making the invita
tions, featuring green wreaths
tied with red bows, they have also
worked hard in decorating the
school caftteria.
The P. T. A. co-operating with
the Student Organization, will
help furnish refreshments for
everyone. Games and other inter
est will be conducted in the Gen
eral Purpose room for those stu
dents who do not dance. Music
will be furnished by a Juke box.
In a musical atmosphere Julian
Aldridge, editor-in-chief of THE
BLACKBIRD, crowned Erwin
Robbins, Miss Print during a spe
cial assembly on December 16
whil ethe nation’s top tune was
played, signifying that Erwin was
senior high’s top beauty. A beau
tiful bouquet was presented to
Miss Print before she went on
stage.
Erwin with the help of her
campaign manager. Ronnie Fel
ton. received a total of 10.007
votes. Kitty Thurman was runner-
up. Her campaign manager was
Charles Sanders.
Other candidates and their
campaign managers were intro
duced according to the hit parade
songs, since the theme of the pro
gram this year was hit parade
music.
On behalf of Mrs. T. D. Young
and THE BLACKBIRD staff. Lu-
dinda Oliver, business manager,
thanked each candidate, each
campaign manager, those who
helped in the campaign and those
who contributed to make the cam
paign a big success.
This is the ninth year that the
school paper has sponsored the
Miss Print contest, the funds of
which are used for the publica
tion of the paper. Each penny do
nated counts one vote and the
students who work In this cam
paign are doing the school a real
service.
Miss Print’s picture will appear
in the Blackbird and the HI-NOC-
AR.
Jean Thorpe was Miss Print for
the 1953-54 year and Lillian
Daughtrldge won the 1952-53 con
test.
Srs. Clioose
Top Twelve
Congratulations are in order for
Jane Hatchett, Kay Williford.
MimI Brewer, Erwin Robbins.
Nancy Newbold. Audrey Kennedy,
Bobby Savage. Bill Kincheloe,
Sandy Thorpe, Marvin Barnes,
Julian Aldridge, and Bobby Wim
berly, who were elected the twelve
most outstanding seniors.
These students have been out
standing all four years at Rocky
Mount high school and they have
each served the school in some
way. Their pictures will appear in
this year’s annual.