Newspapers / Rocky Mount High School … / Dec. 18, 1958, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAGE TWO THE BLACKBIBI), 110 CKY MOUNT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 19»8 Ch.fistm.as, Time For Joy What is Christmas? Is it just a time to decorate a tree, pile gifts knee- deep or hang a long, red stocking over the fireplace? Christmas is more than just these material things so customary in our Yuletide festivities. Christmas is the day God, the Maker, gave the greatest gift in all of celestial greatness to a dying world . . . His son, Jesus Christ. The story of the Nativity, of the angels’ songs, of the shepherd’s vigil, of the wise men’s journey and of the birth of the Christ Child is still the most important part of the Christian Christmas. The purpose of the life, work and crucifiction of Jesus was to bring understand ing and a better Vv'ay of life and, most of all, to offer sal vation to all mankind. Because the life of Christ is the basis of the Christian religion, believers devote a day in holy commemoration of His birth. Those who are so quick to accuse America and her people of being entirely thoughtless and forgetful of the true meaning of Christmas evidently see only one side of the story. They see the greedy little person who is more inter ested in stuffing his wallet than in filling his heart with; Christmas joy. They see a few of the irritable sales clerks worn out from a day of pushing, shoving crowds. They see the Santa Clauses so covered with advertisements that the kiddies can’t get even a peek. They don’t see the many clubs and civic organizations who make it a project to give some less fortunate family a happy Christmas. They don’t see the millions, the nation over, for whom the story of the Christ Child is sweeter, more symbolic and more beautiful each year. They don’t see those who gather on Christmas morning to thank God for His Christmas gift . . . His son. Every American will have the true Christmas spirit when he realizes that while the lighter side of Christmas is a part of the holiday, the most important aspect is still that which is deeply rooted in religion and in the beliefs of all mankind. Tragedy No Respecter Can Strike Anywhere Helplessly the country stood by and watched, with horrified eyes, the 'great tragedy in Chicago where 90 school persons, mostly children, perished in a fire. Ai'son was discounted soon after the fire and the cause contributed to accident. Whether arson or accident, the cause, not of the fire itself, but of so many unneces sary deaths is evident. Actually the fire—as fires go—was not so bad. The tremendous number of lost lives was the result of panic and probably of a lack of disaster training. Could it happen here? Just because Rocky Mount Senior High is a one floor, stream-lined, sui)posedly fire-proof building rather than a rambling, three or four-story tinderbox with only one fire escape is no reason to become oblivious of any and all danger. There are never substantial grounds on which one may ignore the necessity of well-planned, regular fire drills and an extensive program of fire prevention. Are people ever really as safe as they think they are? As far as the average student is concerned, fire is the farthest thing from his mind. His philosophy is “Only one in a million chances it’ll happen to us.” Perhaps . . . but when that one in a million happens, it’s too late then. Unfortunately, it takes a tragedy such as the loss of 90 young lives, now one of the greatest fires in the annals of American history, to jolt the public into facing reality. Suddenly, all over the country, groups are taking steps to see to it that what happened in Chicago won’t happen in their schools. The responsibility for safety, however, is twofold. It’s up to the adults to provide relatively safe, fire-proof schools; it’s up to the students to be prepared for disaster should it strike. THE BLACKBIRD ^ if Rocky Mount Senior High' Member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association EDITOR SUSIE STREET Advertising Manager Carolyn >'icliols Business Manager Judy Smitli Circulation Manager Regina Harles Adviser . 3fRS. T. D. TOUJfG A P I Season Hectic Yet Merry Christmas ... a joyous occasion but a hectic one al most any way you look at it! If we think we have troubles, think of the poor peo ple working in the stores! When do those poor folks shop? The girls of the gift-wrapping counters probably wrap packages and tie bows in their sleep . . . The worst time for these people of infinite patience is after Christmas. Can you imagine how trying it must be to exchange grandmother’s paisley shawl for two brass candlesticks, or baby’s bottle warmer for four pairs of ruffled rubber pants? Makes me weak to think about it! After all the exchanging is through, the after-Christmas sales come, after which half the clerks either commit suicide or take the two-week vacation in January that they were planning to take in July. Now back to the good old before-Christmas rush. Such fun!! Have you ever licked stamps until you can’t talk for the glue on your tongue?? Or baked Santa Claus cookies until you’d like to see the jolly fellow in person to tell him his beard is too difficult to shape in dough? During all the confusion of wrapping last-minute gifts, addressing: the last hundred Christmas cards, baking what seems a million and one cookies, and cleaning up all broken Christmas ornaments for the day, we STILL have to act jolly and cheerful and have an “Oh, isn’t thia FUN??” expression on our faces at all times because of the CHILDREN! We can’t destroy their wonderful de lusions for one minute. These darlings?? children always want to be Mother’s Father’s, Sister’s, Brother’s or Grannie’s Little Helper, and end up leaving a trail of cake batter behind them, having particles of popcorn balls stuck in their hair, being wrapped from head to toe in red tinsel, or they can be found under the Christmas tree with the cotton from the snow-scene (you worked so hard on it too) in their shiny little ears . . . “But Mama, we was jus’ playin’ doc- ;r. . .” Despite all this, however, we’d go to twice, or even three times, the trouble and last minute worries, just to see the sweet, appreciative expression on their happy faces Christmas morning. Dear St. Nick ‘Big Kiddies’ List ‘I Wants’ It’s unfair tout it’s always Kftie little Wddies a;rmed with a lolli pop in oine hand and a long- list of “I wants” in the other who get to sit on Sanita’s knee. The BLACK BIRD staff can’t afford the lolli pops but they do feel that for a change Senioir Hig'h studenits BTid Meaningof Candles Once again ajs the Yuletide sea- son draws near it is time for the gay decoratioos that are a part of the American Christmas. The candle, one of the niast beautiful and dranxatic of all Christmas siym- ■bo^s is deeply rooted in legend aad has a profound place in mio- dern I'ife. The light of candles has always been symbolic of the enlightenment Je«us brougjht to earth. The rad iance of His life and work semt beams of undeiistainding and loive to light the darkened pits of hate and ignorance. Gayly decorated candles often lig'ht the windows of AmOTican homes today. In the earlier day^ their purpose was more than mere decoiration. They vero often placed in windows so that when Mary and Joseph passed often s'eekdng shel- teir for the Christ Ch'Jld, they might know' that they were wel come. TUiough today the meaning O'f candles is not so s>TObolic as in earlier tlmels, the candle is still a thng of beauity and meaning and a treasured part of our Christ- Fias, teachers Should have the chance to plead their cause with Saint Nick. From the following “I wants” tihe ‘‘big kiiddiies” are far from being iead with old age. Murray MaeDiarmid, the odd one ;n the bunch, wants a yerbasagrada (if Santa can decipher that). Miss Alma Murcliison, is really (liming for the moon (something our scienitSs.ts have yet to do). She wants to find under her tree a milliioinacre husband who will take her abound the world in 80 days. Skippy Best, the daring one-and- only, wants a weeks vacation in ALau-Mau land, Africa -wlhliile Reed Nelson wants somethiing a little more sensible . . . like a gii'l friend. George Hondroiis, in a pinch, Ivould like some time to think it over. Careful, Geiorge! It’s later than you think! Mr. C. M. Edson, going throug'h a long speech to the effect of, “Have you seen one of tTiiase long, low, gorgeous ’59 solid gold Cadi llacs? Well, I want a pair of roller skates.” Lawrence Satterfield ■would like a straight “A” report card for a change. (Miracle, Miracle). Just a reminder to Samita, in case you’re listening. Piealsie be good to these children since they’ve been fairly (??) good and since they’ve signed a written agree- Inent prosnisdng to eat their Wheat- ;es at least once a day.
Rocky Mount High School Student Newspaper
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Dec. 18, 1958, edition 1
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