PAGB TWO
THE BLACKBIRD. EOOKT MOUIfT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1959
Beware Of Hallowe’en Spirits
'wM/i
Hallowe ’en Is Exciting
To Those Taking Part
In The Holiday Parties
Not really a celebrated holiday as we know today, but
a special “fun” day for many, Hallowe’en brings happy
excitement and suspense to those who take part in its
gay festivities and enchantment.
Many superstitions arise in connection with this day of
celebration. Witches on broomsticks usually patrol the
sky. And, of course, there are almost always a few black
cats scattered here and there. Jack-o-lanterns, made from
pumpkins, hang in windows—casting strange shadows
and frighting glares.
Hallowe’en, the evening of October 31, originated in
Great Britain. It has several names, including Nutcrack
Night and the Vigil of All Hallows. It was regarded as a
highly superstitious day and was celebrated with unusual
ceremonies.
Those born on Hallowe’en have special connections
with supernatural beings, so the belief goes. These people
can communicate with the beings, as well as receive cer
tain supernatural powers from them. On this day, the
object of looking into the future was to see who the part
ner for life would be.
Imagination plays the most vivid role in the celebration
of this day. For Hallowe’en, with its supernatural influ
ences could not exist without this.
School, Important To All
Staff And Friends
Bid Good-by to Pal
Herb Allred, page four editor of
The Blackbird, left RMSHS on Oc
tober 17, moving to Chattanooga,
Tenneessee, and taking witih him
pleasant memories and good wishes
from the students who knew him.
Herb, known throughout the school
for a few “beatnick” jokes, gets
along well with everyone. Always
v/ith a jolce in mind. Herb did much
clieering-up of those who wei'e hav
ing a bad day.
French must have been a favorite
subject, for he was always writing
an article about it. Another one of
h:i likes is Mad magazine, of which
ha is an avid fan. Because of ori
ginality found in many ideas. Herb
v/as often asked to write assembly
programs that The Blackbird staff
presented.
There is also a serious side to this
loveable character. He is interested
i:: grade, school activities, and
church. Here is an all-around good-
fellow that any student v/ould be
proud to have for a friend.
To you Herb, the members of The
Blackbird staff and Mrs. Z. L. Wil
liams, advisor, wish luck and good
cheer in your new home. Here’s
hoping that your new classmates
appreciate you as RMSH students
have in the past and will continue
to do so in tihe future.
Lavish color makes
Emphasis Is Made
In Fire Prevention
As long as fuel, oxygen, and heat
nave the opportunity to get tc^eth-
er in one place at one time, fire
prevention will continue to remain
a very real and necessary part of
everyone’s lives.
Every intelligent person realizes
that prevention is the safest, surest
method of eliminating injury from
fire. Nevertheless, many people al
low themslves to be placated by the
many recent advances in firefight
ing equipment, sucth as f^ nozzles
and light weight firearmor, in spite
of the fact that these are, or should
be, used only as a last resort.
Most fires are small and isolated
to such a degree that firefighting
equipment requires at least five
minutes, and probably mucili longer,
tc reach the scene. A fog nozzle
may be able to knock down that
fire confined to one room in one
the laws of chance will always keep
perfection beyond grasp. However,
a degree of ffectiveness can be
reached so that not even tihe most
critical observer would truthfully
say “These people died because you
didn’t care
Study, involved with school work, both in class and at
home, is vital to any student who is interested in makingseconds, but it surely would
good grades or winning honors. be sufficient for a large fire.
If the school benefits its students, what can they give i^ths from pe cannot be com-
in return? Patriotism should be placed near the top of the Pi®teiy eieminated, of course. No
list. School spirit should follow, as this helps to develop « S
a school in which to be proud.
Taking part in as many activities as time permits, and
doing a good job, is an asset to any school. But, just parti
cipation in various activities is not enough—classwork
and homework must be considered.
Doing each day’s work as it is assigned keeps it from
piling up. It also gives enough time for a student to do
a thorough job. When homework is known in advance,
students can plan their time and allow for extra study
Putting off today’s work until tomorrow is no way to
master any subject. Time often runs out for those who do
this.
Concentration is an important factor. A good job can
not be expected, unless the work is understood. Trying to
do other things while homework is being done, often re
sults in loss of time, wrong answers, and the lack of know
ledge that is needed on tomorrow’s pop quiz.
Taking part in class is vital. Doing this helps students
to gain a better understanding of the subject. Teachers
often recognize the need of the individual student when
they take part in class discussion. Students will have the
advantage if they participate willingly and do that work
which needs to be done.
Ben Blackbird Sez
A pat on the back some
times helps in the developing
of character, if it is done young
enough, often enough, and low
enough.
Autumn, The Beautiful Season
for nature walks
During the autumn season color is everywhere, espe
cially in the leaves, flashing their brilliant reds,'golds,
and browns in the sunlight, while they fall from the trees,
springling the earth with color and life.
j-i, nature and also those who enjoy the beauty
tnat this time of year brings, often find themselves want-
ing to .get out into the fresh, crisp air. Everyone is sure
to feel the innerglow that this beauty brings.
Walking through the parks, draped in their autumn
splendor, people surely realize that there is a supreme
beings who creat6d this beautiful world. No matter where
they turn, they can find some sort of loveliness.
Even when the rains come, they bring beauty. For after
they are gone, the drops of moisture sparkle and twinkle
in the sunlight. The wind causes the leaves to dance from
their force, thus creating more beautiful effects.
Falling leaves always present the task of raking them
together. Contests, held among the workers, to see who
can rake the most, often turn this job into enjoyment.
Children find it fun to play and frolic in the neatly gather
ed leaves.
On a free afternoon a couple might want to drive or
walk through the colorful out-of-doors as peace and con
tentment seem to cover the world during this season.
Occasionally the song of a bird or chatter of a squirrel'
breaks the silence. Everyone will en'joy life more if they
can discover this season before it is gone.
Columbus Day Slips By Quietly
Without Any Special Notice
Columbus Day, just another day for many, living in a
land of peace, freedom and contentment, a land for which
men have fought, worked and died; Mr. and Mrs. Aver
age American watched October 12 slip quietly by.
Americans have ancestors of which to be proud. A
small group of pilgrims tore themselves from their homes,,
their friends and country, to come to a new world, search
ing for freedom, finding wilderness and Indians. These
first Americans were a strange group of people. Living:
in a world of tyranny, they dared to speak their beliefs!
that every individual was born with certain rights; rights
to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
These people bravely withstood all the forces bent on
destroying them. Fighting wars, diseases, cold and hun
ger, they built a strong nation out of a savage wilderness
and became heirs to a continent. The nation became a
refuge for the oppressed, a shining example of demo
cracy, and a symbol on which the principles of world,
peace are founded.
America is a fabric, made up of many threads, each a,
symbol of the American way of living, threads of ambi
tion, hope, loyalty, respect, charity, love of God and man,
peace and freedom. United, these threads form one of the
greatest nations in the world. Divided, they are only an
uncertain mass of people, quarreling blindly among them
selves.
THE BLACKBIRD
,|)Rocky Mount Senior Higli|
Member ofi tlie
Colunibla Scbolastio Press Associatioi*
editor ALLEN CASEY
Business Manager Burt White
assistant Harriet SpruiU
Circulation Manager Margaret Carmichea)
Advertising Manager Jayne Crumpler
assistant Margaret Avera
Exchange Editors \ Tommy Baysden
Terry Lynn Harles
ADVISOR MRS. Z. L. WILUAMS
Entered as mail matter of the second class at Rocky Mount, N. C..
under the Act of March 8, 1891.