PAGE FOUR
THE BLACKBIRD, ROCKY MOUNT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL THURSDAY. DECEMBER 13, ^62
THE BLACKBIRD Staff takes this opportunity
to wish each and every one of its subscribers
and advertisers a very Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year. We offer this special 12-
page issue as our gift to you and hope you
will enjoy it.
Dwight Thonnas, Editor
i
Spirit Of Christmas Has Two Sides
When a salesman was asked to speak at a meeting
he brought with him a huge white square of pap>er with
a black mark placed m the center. As the salesman point
ed to the paper, he asked individually the twenty-five
men present what he saw. Without exception each man
remarked that he saw rither a black mark, black dot,
or a black circle. Not once did anyone mention the vast
white area surrounding the small, black mark.
How many of us are I'ke the narrow-minded sales
man? How many of us look onlv at the commercial side
of Christmas and lose sight of the intended meaning of
Chris+mas?
When we think of the giving aspect of Christmas,
we can look at the bla’k and see the selfishness usually
present our giving. We can look at the white and see
the vastness of giving freely of oneself and expecting
no gift in return.
We, as teen-agers, can look at the bla^k and include
only a small nucleus of friends in cur Christmas cele
bration; or we ran look at the whi+e and center our
Christmas around our family, extending greetings and
■-preading jov to everyone we see.
We, like the narrow-minded salesman, can limit our
selves to a commercial, unmeaningful Christmas. In
stead, we should make the vast whi+e area unlimit^
and prepare for the re-enactment cf the b'rth of Christ
m such a way that the joy we possess will illuminate us
through the coming year.
Has American Youth Become Soft?
Has American Youth become soft?
Since the dav this great country of ours was founded
the adults of America have alwavs thought that the
f'f^ming generation was surely going to the dogs. The
Youth of America, however, have each time risen to
the challenge and maintained our nation’s position as
leader of the free world. There have alwa-i^s b^n capable
voung men and womf'ti who we'>*e willing to assume
posts of authority and guide the United States on the
road r>f Freedom.
The situation has changed todav, though. Not onlv
have the Youth of America, but bo+h a'lults and vouth
all over the world have become soft. The development
of the Machine and the gradual increase of Government
power over the individual have created a tendencv in
man to let someone else do what he used to do for him
self. Conventionalitv and conformitv are creeping into
dominating roles in the plav calle'^ Life. Societv. not the
Individual, now reign's supreme. The individual man is
becoming pawn, soon he will be nothing.
What can we do to remedv this illness that is slowly
penetrating the bloodstream of Mankind. We must cer
tainly act auickly, for like every disease this sickness
will eventuallv cause great harm or even death if not
checked. First, man must realize that he is sick and must
recognize his sickness. This is the most difficult task to
fulfill, but after it is accomplished the cure will be
simole. Man will then be aware of his danger, and self-
preservation will force him to retreat and to take the
correct path.
It is UD to us, the American Youth of today, to see
the perils that lie before us, to recJize our softness, and
to act accordingly. We, like all other generations face
a challenge, a chailenee, however, that must be met, for
the future of life itself now truly hangs in the balance.
Ben BlacM)ird Meosure Your Intelligence Through
Se* ^ jt JhujiipI Version Of Aptitude Test
Have A Blast
At_The
Christmas Dance
HUMANS DEFEAT
TB GERMS 6-0
The stage had been set and
the battle was fought as dramati
cally as everyone had expected.
The conclusion was in doubt most
of the game, but the Human Bodies
finally managed to score a 6-0
gridiron victory over the rugged
Tuberculosis Germs.
For three quarters and most of
the fourth the two teams battled
but neither managed to score.
Finally with the Germs driving
late in the game, Body halfback
T. B. Test leaped high into the
air to intercept a Germ pass, and
he returned it99yarndsstoscore
the winning touchdown.
Waiting until late in the game
was the Germs’ usual strategy,
which was to let the other team
get tired and rundown, before the
Germs would strike. But this time
their strategy backfired.
Human Body Head Coach
Chester X-Ray commented after
the game saying, "Everybody
needs a T. B.,Test. Mr. Test is
quick, explosive, and gets the job
done fast. In my opinion he’s
a safe guard for anyone who chal-
lenges the rugged Tuberculosis
Germs.”
The Germs, a.powerful team
that rarely loses, will meet the
General Public next Friday night
in what promises to be a fine
football game. General Public you
had better get your“T.B. Test”.
David Lamm
From The Desk
Of The Editor
(Editor’s note, Editorials in
THE ' BLACKBIRD should be
written to express the opinions
of the majority of senior High
students, not the opinions of THE
BLACKBIRD Staff or any one
member of the staff.
To help meet this end, THE
BLACKBIRD accepts any sug
gestions for possible editorials
from the student body. Such ideas
will be carefully considered by
the editorial staff and those
judged to be of interest and need
will be published^
Dwight Thomas, Jr.
APPITUDE TEST
(Editor’s Note: After you’ve taken this test, look on
page 3 for the answers, if you get 13 correct, you’re a
genius; 8—you’re average; 6—sub-normal; 4—sorry, but
you’re an idiot.)
1. If you went to bed at 8 o’clock at night and set
the alarm for 9 o’clock in the morning, how many hours
sleep would this permit you to have?
2. Do they have a fourth of July in England?
3. How many birthdays does the average man have?
4. If you had only one match, and entered a room
in which there was a kerosene lamp, an oil heater, and
a wood burning stove, which would hght fu^st?
5. Some months have 30 days, some have 31, how
many months have 28 days?
6. If a doctor gave you three pills and told you to
take one every half hour, how long would they last you?
7. What is the minimum number of cictive baseball
players “on the field” during any part of an inning?
How many oifts in an inning?
8. I have in my hand two U. S. corns that total 55
cents in value. One is not a nickel. Please bear that in
mind. What are the two coins?
9. A farmer had 17 sheep. All but nine died. How
many did he have left?
10. Divide 30 by % and add 10. What is the answer?
11. An archaeologist claimed he found some gold
coins dated 46 B.C. Do you think he did?
12. A woman gives a beggar 50 cents. The woman
is the beggar’s sister, but the beggar is not the woman’s
brother. How come?
13. Is it legal in North Carolina for a man to marry
his widow’s sister? , . , , ,i
14. How many animals of each species did Moses take
aboard the Ark with him?
15. What word is misspelled on this test?
THE BUCKfiIRD
official publication of
Rocky Mount Senior High
Member of the
CoItunbU Scholastic Press Association
Editor I>wl«ht Thomas
Advertising Manager Nancy Helms
Business Manager Dell Harris.
Circulation Manager Mike Floyd
Art Editor Betty Armstrong
1st PPage Marilyn Spencer
2nd Page Greg Low
3rd Page Jimmy Williams
4th Page Carlton Edwards
5th Page Nancy Helms
Gth Page David Lamm
7th Page Mike Floyd
8th Page Harris
Reporters Barbara Swinson, Cheryl Andrews, Ellie Watson,
Betty Armstrong, Laurie Collins, Nancy Peyton,
Sherry Bulluck, Jeff Kincheloe, Linda Edwards,
Anne Chandler, Jean Joyner, Jay Kridel, Bob
Sides
Advisor Z. L. Williams
Principal Mr, C. M. EdspU'