Smithfield High School - Shield Yearbook (Smithfield, NC)

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Class tstor Lights dim. Curtains part. And on this stage of life the characters ap pear, each knowing well he has a part to play. This drama is a strange one for even the players do not yet know whether it is comedy, tragedy, or his- torical drama in which their parts are cast. A hushed stillness prevails in the audience as the play opens. As Act I unfolds, we, the actors and actresses in this drama realize that this is the beginning of the most important four years of our lives. The first yea.r in high school found every freshman alert and anxious not to miss his cue. Yes— one had to be alert to become accustomed to changing classes, attending school dances, taking part in athletics, and fitting into the high school pattern in general. In Act II as in all Shakespearean plays, the plot begins to thicken. We now perform our parts with on air of self-confidence not evident before. The highlights of this, our sophomore year, were the highly successful magazine campaign, the World Peace Oratorical Contest, and the honor received by a few of our classmates of attending the annual Junior-Senior Banquet as waiters and waitresses. Ah! The third act! Each word spoken was filled with special meaning, because we were juniors and next in line to be the school ' s most honored class. Such on active year we had never experienced before! Our football heroes began to come to light as our arch rival was defeated in the Thanks- giving game. And the taste of victory was still sweet as we danced that night under our traditional red and white canopy. Along with the honor of being upper classmen came responsibilities and many they were. Among the first of our duties was to present a class ploy. We discovered that those long nights of practice repaid us in a deep sense of satisfaction at having produced a successful performance. Then came the time for us to put aside our dramatic abilities and concentrate on the more down-to-earth school activities. Then into our hum- drum existence suddenly came the overwhelming knowledge that this year it was our job to make the Junior-Senior Banquet a success. Everyone was looking to us to make that climax of the social calendar the great success it had always been. Once again we felt that inner satisfaction which comes from participating in a job well done. The curtains part; this time for Act IV — our final and climactic scene. We perform our ports with enthusiasm. There is comedy — speech class, chapel programs, the halls during recess, stale jokes told in the locker rooms, good friends laughing together. There is tragedy — a broken test tube in the smoke-filled chemistry lab., the bitter sting of defeat on the foot- ball field or basketball court, the painful memories of some faded romance. Even the historical drama, Shakespeare ' s third type of play, is represented, for after all, will not the class of 1951 be rememibered by posterity? The curtain slowly begins to close on this the final act. Nothing stands between us and the adult world but a scrap of paper to be clutched by our eager hands. Even as we speak our closing lines the scenery is being changed for another drama. The characters will be different; the plot is the same. We feel only deep regret at being so quickly replaced but . . . ' All the world ' s a stage . . .

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ELLIE RUTH ALLEN A mind that is happy must be great. Library Club 1; Home Ec. Club 2; French Club 3; Vice-President Commercial Club 4; Decoration Com- mittee Junior-Senior 3; Play Committee 4. JULIA ALICE ALLEN Originality is the true evidence of genius. Journalism Club 1, 2, 3, 4, Vice-President 3, Presi- dent 4; Glee Club 1, 2, 4, Publicity Chairman 4; Marshal 3; Girls ' State 3; Chairman Entertainment Committee Junior-Senior 3; Basketball 1, 2, 3, 4; Monogram Club 3, 4, Secretary-Treasurer 4; Play Committee 4; High Times Staff 3, 4, Assistant Editor 3, Editor-in-Chief 4; Assistant Editor The Shield 4; Winner Angier B. Duke Scholarship award 1951. MONA MAE ALLEN Gentle of speech, beneficient of mind. Art Club 1; Home Ec. Club 2; Needlecraft Club 3, 4; Arrangement Committee Junior-Senior 3; High Times Staff 4; Cap and Gown Committee. ELSIE NORINE BARBOUR A happy life consists of tranquillity of mind. Camera Club 1; Home Ec. Club 2; Needlecraft Club 3, 4; Food Committee Junior-Senior 3; Cap and Gown Committee. VIOLA MATILDA BATTEN And in their vaunted works of Art, the masters stroke is her part. Art Club 1; Home Ec. Club 2; Needlecraft 3, 4, Vice-President 4; Placement Committee Junior-Senior 3; Cap and Gown Committee 4; High Times Staff 4. CATHRYN EVA CHEEK None knew thee but to like thee. Secretary Camera Club 1; Vice-President Home Ec. Club 2; Journalism Club 3, 4; Glee Club 1, 2, 4, Secretary 4; Entertainment Committee Junior-Senior 3; High Times Staff 4; Business Staff The Shield 4; Social Committee 4. CHESTER RICHARD COOKE Sum up thy speech, say much in little. 4-H Club ' l; Sports Ciub 2, 3; Etiquette Club 4; Decorating Committee Junior-Senior 3; Business Staff The Shield 4; Ring Committee 4. JOYCE FAYE DAUGHTRY Kindly speech maketh many friends. 4-H Club 1; Home Ec. Club 2; Needlecraft Club 3, 4; Glee Club 1; Junior-Senior Entertainment Com- mittee 3; Cop and Gown Committee.