ftchard H. Thornton Library
Oxford, North Carolina
PATRONIZE
OUR
ADVERTISERS
LET'S ALL
BOOST
OXFORD
FOR A BIGGER, BETTER OXFORD
OXFORD. N. C. JANUARY 6, 1922
NO. 8
VOL. I.
GEOMETRY
The Nemesis of the Senior class,
namely geometry, has come in for
much criticism from the various mem
bers of said class. It seems just at
present that the criticisms may be
classified under two heads. The
first class would give the opinion that
geometry is the simplest, the easiest
and the most beneficial subject in the
curriculum. Needless to say this is
the opinion of that portion of the
class which is optimistic enough to
bdieve that they have attained the
astounding grade of seventy-five on
the late exams. But the opinion of
the other portion of the class, which
entertains no such high expectation,
is entirely opposite. To make a long
story short this latter opinion is that
geometry should be stricken from
the curriculum, immediately and
without reservation.
Although I am, through circum
stances, a sharer of this latter opin
ion, my conscience prompts me to
pay something in defense of this
most obnoxious institution. Muny of
the malcontents voice the objection
that thcyi not need to know that
vertical angles are equal or that con
secutive angles of a parallelogram
are supplementary because they arc
going to be preachers or cooks or
millionaires. We hope they will at
tain their ambitions, but if they
don't learn to appreciate geometry
they will make mighty poor million
aires. We agree that the subject
matter of geometry will not be of
w.i(.U rwar tln1 ol1 tKmwrVl OVI n
that is well worth the time we give
it, but it is the afber-effects that
make geometry of ln'iiefit. One has
to exert a certain amount of brain
power to solve a geometry problem
and it is this which makes geometry
beneficial to us, or at least to those
who study it. If you don't believe
this look at the folks who are most
proficient hi geometry, or in any
mathematics, for it's all built on the
same plan. If they are normal in
other respects they are, in the large
majority of cases, highly successful.
We dn't mean that they are al
ways great poets or bankers or
statesmen, although this is often
true, but they are successful as men
count success, whatever their occu
pation may be.
Consider for a moment the facul
ties that go into solving a proposi
tion in geometry: First, the power of
organization to keep in mind what is
given and what is to be proved, of
analysis to decide what known truths
enter into the proof; of imagination
when a supposition is to be proved
and of concentration to focus all
these powers on the question at is
sue. Surely if we can learn to exercise
all these powers by devoting a rea
sonable amount of time to the study
of this one course, then geometry
is well worth all the effort it costs.
(Signed) A SUFFERER
William Pace was heard to remark
a few days ago that he had bought
a couple of clocks guaranteed not to
run.
"What," demanded a puzzled friend,
"do you want with clocks that won't
run?"
"Prefer 'em that way on my socks,
old dear," drawled said William as
he disappeared around the corner in
the direction of the bank.
EMANCIPATION DAY s
Why is the first of January a na- ,
tional holiday? If you don't know,
your cook can tell you that it's Eman
cipation Day. Lincoln emancipate I
the negroes on the first of January,
1863, but why let emancipation end
there? Let's emancipate a little our
selves. This is the best time of the
year to do it. Pick out the fault
which you would most like to get rid
of and then concentrate on the task ;
of overcoming this fault. I know a
boy who is very absent-minded. If
this boy goes to a store to get three
articles it usually takes him about
three trips to get everything he wants.
The boy in question has decided to
emancipate himself from this fault.
If he forgets anything which he wants
to remember he is going to stop right
where he is and try to kick himself.
You may be able to think of a bet
ter plan than this and if you get rid
of one fault this year you can get rid
of two next year, and unless you
pick up new faults mighty fast you
ought to get to be a right dependable
sort of a person after a while. Any
way, it won't hurt anything to try, so
why not pick out your pet fault and
start right now to emancipate your
self from it?
Ivey Allen
THE AFTERMATH
Holidays are fine things. There :s
no doubt on that score. As one mem
ber of our faculty has remarked,
"There are rays of light in he uni-
-1 JiVp'" , W .ft-,''1,?t" i
rise up in protest against this base
insinuation but just at present w-;
feel too crushed in spirit to resent.
We have eaUn and slept until we
are not good for anything else. Lying
in bed until eleven o'clock in the morn
ing is very pleasant while it lasts,
but it is hard to realize at the time
that it's not going to last. It is lite
ally a rude awakening on the day
school opens when we are hauled out
of bed in the morning in time to go
greet the rising sun. When we get
to school we walk around in sort of a
dazed fashion until by the end of the
day we are somewhat normal. Then
we begin to realize that holidays are
over. When we get back home in the
afternoon the Christmas decorations
which we had come to consider as fix
tures seem surprisingly out of place.
They jar us continually with their
suggestion of our recent good times.
If we have energy enough we begin
to take them down. Right there is
where the hardest job begins. It is
easy to get ready for something to
which we are looking forward with
pleasure but when it's all over and
gone, the tearing down is a different
thing entirely the morning after
the night before, to express it in
technical terms and cleaning up is a
bad job anyway. But the sooner we
realize that it is necessary and get
it off our hands the better it will
be because real work can begin only
after the debris has been put away
and the stage is cle'ar for action.
Ivey Allen
Poor "Pig!" He got sick from eat- j
ing the wrong kind of slops.
There is no doubt some boys make
their mark in this world. Look on
the doors at home, the walls at
school, and the pavements between
the two. Eventually, you might take
a look inside a prison csll. Some of
our best "markers" wind up there.
A BAD EXAMPLE
It must have been highly shock
ing to the faculty and highly in
structive to the future senior when a
band cf proud and haughty seniors
paraded through the halls at the fifth
period on Wednesday last, sporting
all-day suckers and bursting paper
bags in front of the door of out
raged teachers, to the general de
moralization of all discipline and es
pecially tc a Christmas party in
Miss Lewter's room. Such acts as
this set a bad example for coming
generations and should be promptly
and decisively squelched by the au
thorities. (Signed) A Guilty Party
BE HAPPY
Folks, be happy, not always bub
bling over with hilarity and joyous
ress maybe,' but always be in a ge
i ial frame of mind. A bit of happi
l ess every day has cured many mala
dies and most people feel better when
they are happy. So what is the use of
grumbling and looking at the dark
side of things, when it's just as easy
to be happy?
But somebody says, "Why? There's
nothing to be happy about." Is thnt
so? The warm cheering sunshine
was meant for you, just as much as
it was for any other individual. Some
other person recognizes and appre
ciates its beauty even if you don't.
There is nothing wrong with the beau
ties of nature if you don't enjoy
Uiem. The trouble is with you. Your
fitimate of the world is not g ng v
Alter the real facts one sin-le nit.
The bird's song is none the less musi-
cal because you are such a grouch
is not to enjoy it.
Be happy. Become better ac-
quainted with the Ruler of the Uni
verse who intends good for you, and
means for you to be happy. You are
here for some definite purpose. Find
out what that purpose is and do your
part to carry it out. You will not
have ta chase after happiness. Just
stand still and let it catch up with
you. Let your first thought on ris
ing, be a big beautiful, magnani
mous one and be always so full of hap
piness and thoughts of love that
grouchiness and discontent will run
from you.
Bessie Faulkner,
"77ie Tattler"
SHOCKING!
A piece of gossip has recently been
whispered into the ears of the edi
tors, but we realize that the publica
tion of said chatter will require care
ful handling in order that the par
ties concerned will not be offended.
Nevertheless, when a new photogra
pher comes to town and locates on
Main street near Taylor Brothers,
we feel it our duty to inform the
public concerning the business. Now,
eaid photographer is a highly esteem
ed townsman, and we hope that he
will not feel hurt when we call at
tention to one of his small ads. at the
bottom of the steps. It runs thus
"We make Post Cards Walk Up."
Our intelligent readers will readily
observe that if a period had been al
lowed a place on the card, the photo
grapher would not have so strenuous
ly exaggerated the magnitude of his
business thereby frightening the
passersby from the door lest they be
lured upward.
Since it is so near examination
time, the editors would be foolish in-
deed to incur the enmity of Miss Al
len. But, as our aim is to tattle, we
will take the chance. At a shortly
passed date, one Herbert Rountree,
Jr., called central to ring 56-W, as he
wanted to converse with Ivey Allen,
Jr. Central thereupon was heard to
exclaim: "Oh, law I suppose you
want to speak to Elizaleth."
Our readers will be enlightened as
to the significance of the exclama
tion, when they remember that
"Lucky" Stark is on the line with
Herbert, and that Miss Allen's given
name is Elizabeth.
The end.
"HIGH" SOCIAL EVENTS
There was a number of jolly dances
among the "high" crowd during the
Christmas holidays. The Eastons
led off with a very delightful affair
not likely to be soon forgotten by
those fortunate enough to be present.
Elizabeth Hunt's New Year dance
was certainly a thing of beauty and a
joy for one night at least. Those
who didn't care for dancing found
plenty of fun at rook. Charlotte Eas
ton was the winner in a clever New
Year contest. Elaborate refresh
ments were served during the inter
mission. Punch was served through
out the evening.
Roger Lanier was host to another
jolly dance during the holidays. The
Christmas spirit was in evidence in
pretty decorations and del cious re
freshments. Frances Landis' informal dance
i Tv,Uy riht v-ogMy tond'H";' h
! holiday festivities. From now on we
j shall very likely have to content our
selves with Friday night parties.
Such is the dictum of the powers that
he.
COL. BALLOU AND DR. WHITE
PLAY SANTA CLAUS
I Hats off to two of Oxford finest
citizens, Col. W. B. Ballou and Dr.
! E. T. White. At the Christmas sea
j sen when most of us are busy with
plans for our own happiness and that
I of our families and intimate friend.s;
' these two gentlemen thought of the
wretched convicts quartered in our
vicinity. After interviewing the pro
per authorities and becoming person-
j ally responsible for the safe return
j of the men, Dr. White and Col. Bal-
lou arranged for a release of
I all white prisoners for the period
of
the Christmas holidays. Can
you imagine a finer Christmas gift
than that? Surely it is of the kind
that Christ Himself would approve.
Are you surprised to learn that ev
ery man on parole reported promptly
at the close of his limited release?
We are not. Any school boy knows
that there isn't a man alive who would
be mean enough to disappoint the
trust of such men as Col. Ballou and
Dr. White.
Tom Booth
Sarah Hall is responsible for the
following story: Roger Lanier was
driving with his mother one day re
cently. In accordance with the traf
fic laws, Mrs, Lanier brought the car
to a full stop at the intersection of
Penn and Broad streets.
"Why are we stopping here, mo
ther?" Roger wanted to know,
"Don't .you see the sign 'All motor
vehicles full stop?"'
"But, mother," objected Roger,
"this vehicle isn't full."