Phillips High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

Page 12 text:

T h e Mirror TRAGEDY OF THE SEA As the toxverinp crags of the Scandinavian coast frown upon a sea of sapphire blue, Sven Jorgeson treads the narrow beach with nervous impatience. He has said farewell to the old folks on the lonely hill and is eager for the arrival of the ship that is to bear him to great adventures, to many far-away places where he may amass a fortune for Hilda, his goddess of the hills, with eyes blue as the sea and tresses like ripened corn. Long months he has awaited this day. Now it is here! But his only thoughts are of the future, and of his return, and of the great wealth he will share with Hilda. Month after month passes; the proud ship plows the waves— a port here— a port there. Year follows year, and as Sven often thinks of the lofty crags of his homeland, always he thinks his cruise will soon be at an end, and then home to Hilda. As time rolls on, from the crest of the high Norwegian hills, a woman with sea-blue eves grown dim and with hair turned silver, climbs down the rugged path— down, down to the sea each day at sunset, to watch and long for a ship to come to harbor. Far away, near the coast of Salvador, a tropical rain pours, as stout trees bend to the whip of rain, and leaves fall to the ground, all of dismal green. The waves toss, the winds howl, and the staunch ship struggles against mighty waves to gain the shore. But, all in vain! Back-, back the ship drifts farther and farther from safety. The vessel goes down—the ship is lost! a store of wealth is lost! As the years pass, day after day Hilda makes a hard journey over stony hills down to the bleak shore watching the ships as they come and go—longing for the ship that will bring her stout-hearted Sven home to Norway, and home to Hilda. —Clara Nell Cain [10]

Page 11 text:

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]

Page 13 text:

T ii l Mirror BEAUTY AM) ORDER 'Hie summer sun does not always glare, Oft it glows with warming light. The yellow moon is not always pale. Its magic fills the night. The hoot owl is not a noisy bird. Its hoot is delicious mystery. The eagle o’er powers not its prey. It is a symbol of majesty. The stars seem not so far away, As they twinkle and brightly beam. The snow is not all deadly cold, It has glitter and silver gleam. The leafless tree is no ugly sight, Though bare when winter comes along. The brook gives no monotonous chant, It sings a one-part song. Life is not a dreary game; Its beauty is never lost. When winter grows dark, remember The crystal beauty of frost. —Carlenc Bozeman [II]