Birmingham High School - Piper Yearbook (Birmingham, MI)

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The talk slowly turns to times of old,and names of long dead relatives, and rusty dates creep into the conversation. All the sins and shortcomings of these deceased ones are taken out, dusted, and stored away again. The timely entrance of the village president spares those who have passed on many an embarrassing situation. The gossipers give quarter to none. The barber adds the final touches to my hair while the president expounds the mysteries of politics to his awed and silent audience. As I pay the barber and stagger toward the door, the illustrious president is airing his opinions of the present administration in no uncertain terms. As the assembled group bids me farewell, I stumble over the door-step and blurt out, Wwell, it sure looks like she's goin't to rain!N 'Ciba .manufacture o 'Headers Bill Cole '55 All of us are stockholders in this businessg all of us play a part in the manufacturing of leaders,and all humanity receives dividends from their presence in the world. As the industry is a vital one and concerns everybody, it deserves much more of our time than is devoted to it. Let us, therefore, make a study of this highly important business. In the last few years nearly all industries have suffered a great deal be- cause their markets have decreased. Even in boom times industries must watch their markets closely. Through all the cycles of prosperity and depression the market for leaders has remained good. This market shows no signs of relaxing its incessant demands for more leaders. There is such a shor+age that very inferior substitutes are often used. So we have a better outlook in that direction than has any other industry. The leader industry is also in a superlative position in regard to raw ma- terials. Every person with average intelligence is a potential leader. There need be no time nor energy spent in selling the finished product be- cause one of the most'noticeable attributes of the product is its ability tosell itself. There is no problem of transportation, as the industry is carried on in all civilized parts of the world. No advertising need be developed. There is plenty without asking. - It would seem that with all these advantages the leader industry would be run in such a way that it would give us an ample and superior product. But this is'not the case. Our present leaders run this world rather inefficiently. There are still prominent such things as war, unemployment, and crime. Of course there are also smaller, lesser evils which are not as wide in scope. Our leaders are not as plentiful or as useful as they should be. Let us consider the qualities a leader should have. There is quite a number of them. A leader must be able to think intelligently and make decisions. He should be original both in thought and actions. He should show initiative and a will- ingness to be the first to do and dare. He must have courage to rule himself and to fight for an objective. He must have an unwavering confidence in himself, and should inspire confidence in others. C continued on page 63 Q 14

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Cn Getting a Small-'Eown Haircut Bob McCutcheon '35 As I stroll aimlessly down THE street, a faded red, white and blue pole catches my eye. It strikes a familiar note in any blissfully blank mind. Uncon- sciously, I reach for my ears. Yes, they are well covered with hair. This is a deplorable state of affairs. I head at once for the striped object. Luck is with me, for I am the only customer. nNow,H think I, nfor a speedy job, and soon shall I be on my way again.N While the 1ong,thin barber lays aside his pipe and paper, puts his suspend- ers back on, and carefully adjusts his green eye-shade, I settle comfortably in the chair. With a happy sigh, I reflect on the good things in life. Nwant a hair cut, do ye?N asks the barber. As he turns on clippers, he con- tinues, UNow I always says that if a feller---N I cut him short with WYes. And don't make it too short.n It is easy to see that he is about to fall into his usual discourse on the weather. Alas, I am powerless to stop him. The following conversation goes something like this: , Wwell, looks like she's goin' to rain.n WYes, I wouldn't be surprised.N feasting an experienced eye at the sky, which always looks iike rain through his w1na0ws.J nYep! Sure wouldn't hurt the crops none.n nYeah, I guess they could stand it.n nlope! Wouldn't be 'tall surprised if it rained before noon.n NHe11, neither would I. Our garden could use it all right.U WYep! She sure is dry. 'Twould do a world of good to the crops, all right? This goes on indefinitely, usually until some farmer or gossip enters. Auto- matically I am eliminated from the conversation,which gradually swings into dif- ferent channels. Presently I am listening to stories of fish of amazing size fwhich the nar- rator landed only after a long struggle 5 or narrow escapes from hunger-maddened bears. Many's the time my heart skips a beat as the barber stabs an on-rushing bull in the heart with the scissors, which whistle perilously close to my right ear. I hold my breath as he sneaks closer' and closer to an unsuspecting deer, draws a bead njust behind the shoulder,N and fires. This to the accompaniment of wildly slashing shears,which half cut and half tear appalling quantities of hair from my head. C continued on page 14 D 13

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l' 41 l W U Verse MY SECRET LOVE I have a little garden Within a high brick wall. In summer sunshine gathers And dead leaves in the fall. The daffodils first gather To greet the coming Spring, And later sweet June roses Cling fast to everything. Sweet pinks with ragged edges And sunny marigold Are still steadfastly with me when summer has grown old. ----Faye Elizabeth Smith HIM His hair is gold and shining, And should he chance to smile, My heart skips in its beating I'm prisoner to his guile He does not dance divinely, He's very poor in purse, Yet I simply can't resist him When he walks out with his nurse. ----Faye Elizabeth Smith SOLILOQUY Oftimes Life seems a dreary thinggand to myself I sigh, WDeath has no fears for me---I'm not a- fraid to die . Little realizing the empty bravery of my words, The false courage. And sighing again, I gaze enviously at birds And butterflies and flowers, with their brief, rapturous span Of life--so fleeting and sc full.Why may not man Live less long---for a few golden hours work and laugh and weep, And, presently, lay him down to a sweet, everlasting sleep? nDeath has no fears for me.u Ah,but inr finitely worse, You are afraid to LIVE, and that is a greater curse By far. Life is a bloody battle,in which to win We must conquer ourselves as well as the fceg And fearless of Death, by the same phil- osophy know We shall as dauntless be 'mid the Life- battle's din. ----Mary E. Staley hw- -+- f , 4 s .1-...T 9 ' ' ! , 1 7- Z x? C - .F 15