Phillips High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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The Mirror GRADUATION Well, the long-lookcd-for-day is here. Contrary to my long-fixed beliefs, graduation has arrived. And, perhaps because of my doubts, it has. in a sly way crept up on me. What am 1 to do with it. People look at me as if they expected me to burst out in a frenzy of eloquence. And yet, it has made no change in me. except to make me know I would not leave Phillips for any other reason. You’d think, knowing the joy and grief that would beset me on this day, it would have given me some warning, and yet, it let me come blithely on my way, looking forward to it, dreaming of it. planning for it, believing myself mistress of the situation! But when graduation arrives, it takes matters in its own hands and —where am I. In a maze; I am still wondering how I can leave Phillips. Perhaps later 1 may look back and laugh at this occasion that I thought was all sweetness. But by then Phillips will have other graduates on its roll, and they, too, will be undergoing my experiences. —Martha Lancaster OUR CHANGING TIMES Every day has it' conventions, but today, compared with former days, conventions hardly exist at all. Of course, there is a distinct line drawn between right and wrong in the matter of ideals, such as dress, courtesy and political rights, but our grandmamas and grandpapas suffered more from straitlaced conventions than we of today. These poor souls were burdened with exaggerations—clothes were worn in excessive amounts, and were very complicated: a false chivalry existed which put men to great trouble in proving themselves gentlemen; the line drawn between men and women in the matter of personal liberties was very sharply and definitely in favor of the men. Our fair ladies anti handsome gentlemen of bygone centuries were martyrs to fashion. A powdered wig was essential to certain costumes. Even men wore them. Piled high on their heads and tied with ribbon, these wigs, instead of being considered effeminate, were peaks of style. Bright colors dominated in men’s knee breeches ami brocaded jackets. Long hose and buckled shoes completed the fashionable man’s dress. 'Ellis is a far cry from today’s informal attire in which comfort is the most important feature. Quiet tones now prevail, dark browns, blues, and black being the colors worn most in winter; and in summer, white and light tones of all colors. Certainly our present-day men do not submit themselves to the discomfort of their forefathers. Feminine beauty was also enhanced by high white wigs. However, women's clothes were different from those of the other sex. Voluminous kirts and numerous petticoats concealed even the pretty toes of the wearer. At the sight of a dainty ankle peeping from the folds of a skirt, shocked elders quickly informed the victim who be- m

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The Mirror PHILLIPS NIGHT Phillips Night ... A light blanket of snow and a biting North wind . . . Enthusiastic visitors brave the climate to hear the auditorium exercises, to see classroom activities, to talk with the teachers One by one, two by two, and sometimes in family groups they come . . . The auditorium is filled with interested parents, with alumni, with faculty members . . . The large clock on the balcony rail nears the hour of eight . . . Mr. DeMaris raises his baton . . . The lively whispers of the audience cease . . . The orchestra opens the exercises of the evening playing colorful selections .... “Carmen and other orchestral classics lend musical richness .... Then welcome—thrice welcome—By Mr. Going in behalf of the school . . . By the president of the student body in behalf of the General Organization . . . By Mrs. Bailey in behalf of the P. T. A. . . . Speakers pay tribute to Dr. Phillips, distinguished founder of the Birmingham educational system . . . Lyric girls, basso boys, musical instruments blend in harmony as happy fathers and mothers sit in an atmosphere of admiration and delight . . . The band, directed by Mr. Mayer, clothed in red and white uniforms, plays spirited numbers . . . The girls, in dark red evening dresses, with shining pearls about their necks, render numbers as pleasing to the ear as are the snowy corsages to the eye . . . Boys with stiff shirts and stout voices sing . . . Enthusiastic applause from the audience . . . The program closes . . . The parents file out of the auditorium to visit the classroom where activities arc in full swing They talk with teachers about the accomplishments of their sons and daughters in Phillips . . . The mutual understanding will live again next Phillips Night. —Nesibe Bahakel AFTER THE LAST WHISTLE (Captain’s Speech a? the Football Banquet. December 3, 1937) Football is truly a great game. I say it is a great game because it allows us to overcome the natural timidity that is in human nature. In football we learn to fear no one and no task. We are given a task to perform; no alibis are in order, and seldom are they given. Sonic people say too much stress is often laid on football. This is true in that often the purpose is distorted. All too often the players arc instilled with only the one idea, “to win.” The game brings much greater reward than of victory. Football serves to imprint in the minds of us. the players, that old saying, “You can’t get something for nothing.’’ Any of you boys, 1 am sure, will agree with me when 1 say you have got “to put out to play the game. We have all seen the “stand arounder” fail where the steady worker succeeded. This game teaches us that we must play by the rules; that if we break the rules we must suffer the punishment. On this occasion which marks the end of high school football for some of us, I think we cannot help but say we have gained much through our participation in the game. We are better able to hold our heads up. square our shoulders, and face life with a good prospect for another victory. [7] —Dan Walton

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T he Mirror tween blushes and (lusters, immediately righted the terrible wrong. Today pretty misses often wear suits that are an abbreviation of those worn long ago. Ranging from brief shorts for beach and tennis to long flowing evening dresses, the modern girl's clothes arc built for health as well as comfort. Gone arc the seventeen inch waistlines which did severe damage to the respiratory system. Waistlines today arc much larger, but this is a part of the naturalness for which our modern girls are noted. Notwithstanding that the dress was very uncomfortable, our forefathers were forced to make a painful attempt at gallantry. A false attitude toward masculine brawn and feminine daintiness resulted sometimes in a condescending but chivalrous manner of men toward women. Only general conversation was carried on in the presence of ladies, for personal matters or those which would offend delicate ears were strictly forbidden. In the present day girls are treated more as pals than formerly and are allowed more privileges such as standing on crowded street-cars, working at jobs that do not require hard physical exertion, and appearing unchaperoned and unescorted at public places. Then, too, the youth of today is not compelled to be as artificially formal and polite to his elders. In former days Age would gaze in shocked surprise at a youth who dared greet him with a familiar “Hey. there!” Now Age merely returns the greeting in the same familiar tone. However, great respect is maintained for the aged, but the ancient, formal politeness is distinctly at an end. Old people of today are more acquainted with the problems of youth, and through their wisdom are able to guide them in a way that would not be possible without friendly ease between the two generations. There are those, however, who wring their hands and wail, “What is this younger generation coming to?” The answer to this question is, “It is coming to be tlie wisest, the most broadminded and the most progressive generation the world has ever known.” Watch for the fulfillment of our prophecy! —Lucy Estes GOOD PRINCIPLES MUST LIVE Good principles must be embodied in individuals—in active, intelligent men and women. In every walk of life we need such citizens; for noble principles considered in the abstract are useless. They live in characters chosen to lead in great crises and in events of national and world-wide importance. In the last analysis, neither wealth nor ancestry can determine our usefulness: it lies in our ability to interpret truth and to express good-will toward our fellowmen. —Martha Lancaster [9]