The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 37, No. 12, Ed. 1, Friday, December 9, 1949 Page: 2 of 4
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DECEMEBER MH9
CPAGE'2
THE OPTIMIST
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EDITORIALS
JVb Fences Please
Says Rubinofi
The other day we heard a great vio-
linist but he was different from other
great violinists.
It's more than his skill with his instru-
ment or his $100000 violin that makes
him famous it's the fact that he is willing
to play to please ordinary people. Sure he
could be long-haired and just play for the
music high-brows but where would that
leave you and me?
It was a surprised audience that list-
ened to a world-famous violinist play con-
cert arrangements of songs like "Don't
Fence Me In" yet it was far from a dis-
appointed audience. Beneath his dignity?
Hardly that. He was here to entertain and
did a more than excellent job of it in a
very refreshing way.
We need the long-haired violinists but
Independence
Versus
"The desire for security is the watch-
word of our generation." This may be
proved by a glance into the current trend
toward pensions insurance and college de-
grees. "Personal dependence is easy; inde-
pendence is hard." Almost contradictory
yet in a sense carrying the same conno-
tation these words are more challenging.
Independence means the unwillingness
to lean upon anyone to be so sure of one-
self so secure in the knowledge that one
will succeed independence is security.
Security does not always mean inde-
pendence though. Absolute security is
dependence. Dependence upon a mediocre
but sure existence. Independence that
clarion call to us all is a going-away from
things settled a breaking away from the
old way of doing things of leaving the
safe sure thing for a step into the un-
known. Perhaps a dash of cold water in the
face will greet one but the knowledge
thakcne-didn't just "string along" is there.
Independence is not always social se-
curity. Quite often the one who steps a-
head who leaves the crowd behind to do
things differently is one who is looked
upon with raised eyebrows. I say let the
eyebrows fall where they may. An inde-
pendent soul is at least happier living with
himself. An independent soul who settles
for security is a shackled rebel.
These compelling almost contradict-
ory words are life itself. N. F.
BBS
Only Fools
and Tex&ms
. It doesn't even pay to pass out the
compliments to anybody anymore. Fred
McClung tried it in his column the In-
formal Informer last week only to have it
boomerang on him.
All that he did was to stick his neck
out and comment about the beautiful
weather that we have been enjoying. But
apparently weather is antagonistic to back
slapping because the paper was no more
than off the press until Old Man Winter
struck in all his fury.
Why did he tell us about the beautiful
let's keep our Rubinof f 's too. We all enjoy
Bach Beethoven and Brahms but some-
times we like to hear Cole Porter too.
Don't fence us in! E. B.
With Freedom
And Justice
The founding fathers of America im-
mortalized this great nation by laying its
foundation in the vast and powerful con-
cepts of the inalienable rights of man and
the incontestible fact that each individual
is created equal. From these cardinal prin-
ciples Democracy was given birth on this
continent.
Almost two hundred years have pass-
ed. It has drifted far from these first con-
cepts for all over the southland the tides
of hatred and prejudice are overflowing.
A race of humans has been submerged.
Submerged because they have a black
skin stretched over their souls. Yet we say
with Jefferson and others that all men are
created free and equal.
The white race in America has
reached the peak of achievment as a re-
sult of educational advantages and liber-
ties. It has' become a dynamic and influen-
tial race. But yet has it become a great
race? No. For with greatness comes a reali-
zation of a responsibility to other people;
the responsibility to other people; the res-
ponsibility of making life easier. The white
race has not attained this height.
The white race demands segregation
from the black race. And when the Negroes
rebel at segregation we begin to fear for
ourselves and strive to stifle the growth
of the Negro. Have vou ever looked at
segregation from the Negroes' viewpoint?
To the Negro segregation means taking
the back seat or standing up on the bus
oven when there are vacant seats up front;
the inabilitv to secure certain jobs or pur-
chase desirable property r goods. It means
the absence of everything that men every-
where consider important. No wonder the
South is in a racial turmoil.
The white race will never become
preat until it learns that the color of the
skin does not determine the rights of the
human. It is helpless until it comprehends
that the mind and soul are the things that
count in the understanding of one another.
The Negro does not want to be supreme
he onlv wants the simple things that vou
and I want: to be able to live to love and
to learn: to be counted as a human being:
to feel included when Christians sav "all
mpn nrp brothers." and when statesmen
sav ''all men are enual." David Walker
weather anyway? All of us knew that it
was fine and that Old Sol was smiling on
us. It is bad psychology to mention the
weather even if it is wonderful so if you
can't say anything bad just don't say any-
thing at all.
But just to keep the tempemture up
and the wind down for seven or eight days
until we at least get out of this West Texas
tundra we are predicting weather at its
worst ice sleet rain and blizzards. If
this doesn't work you will have to buy
an overcoat. E. B.
V
The Optimist
JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT EDITION
Published weekly except during summer vacations by the students of Abilene Christian
College. Subscription: One dollar per year. Entered as second class matter June 29 1929 at the
Post Office of Abilene Texas under Act of August 24 1912. Address all communications to The
Optimist Station A Abilene Texas.
MEMBER OF TEXAS INTERCOLLEGIATE PRESS ASSOCIATION
THE STAFF
Editor
Associate Editor .....
Editorial Assistant
Pago Editors
Nona Foster
Edwin Broadus
David Walkor
Rack Rignoy
Anno Kerr Harvlo Prultt
Rhyming Reporter
Photographers
Cartoonist
Advertising Manager
Anno Howard. Mary Draper Faculty Sponsor
Twinkle Nagy
Frank Graves
David Spraguo
Avon Malono
Bill Anderson
Wendell Bedlchok
Sports Editor
Frod McClung Faculty Advisor for Issue Heber Taylor
. iStaff Reporters: Bill Fling feature; Mary Hargott Marjorio Harrison Shlrloo John-
Bon7 (Francos Lambert Jo Lawson Ruth Womaclc Doc Smith. Mac McFaddon
swaBcr
Before a History Quizi .
"Well Fred how are you on dates?"
"Duh . . . Not so good Professor Brown. Rather slow."
Broad Minded:
Eager Anticipation
Sets Campus Pace
by Edwin Broadus
We never do accomplish much
But yet we always find
The restful holidays don't leave
Us any more behind.
Blood Sweat and . . .
Only seven more days of blood
sweat and tears until the great
annual exodus from the hill and
after that seventeen days of
sleeping eating and sleeping. We
all have some silly idea that wo
are going to do everything that
we should have done in the last
twelve weeks but as far as I'm
concerned we've pulled the wool
over our eyes. How we ever ex-
pect to do in two weeks what we
could not do in three months is
beyond me.
Then there are those of us who
have day-drcamed-up the idea
that we need to rest from our la-
bors. Just try telling that to one
of our frustrated teachers who
have been butting their heads a-
gainst a stone wall trying to prod
a little bit of work out of us
these many months.
Quartered and Hungl
Most of us have stumbled on
to the fact that we can scrape by
and do only about one-fourth of
our work so why do more? It's
been wonderful except I fear wo
arc being double-crossed. Word is
that some faculty members (who
were also not-so-dumb studnots
back in the dim past mnybe on
the Old Campus) have caught on
GTC Program
On Beatitudes
"Sermon on the Mount" with
emphasis on the Beatitudes will
be the theme of Girus' Training
class tonight at 6:45 in room 51.
Those participating on the pro-
gram will be Lois Briggs Irma
Fulbright Janice Schinnerer and
Betty Thomas.
to our tricks and to counteract it
are going to dish out four times
as much work. Pity us poor stu-
dents if this ever happens we'll
have to burn that midnight oil
as much as wo should have been
burning it all along.
Antiquated Relic
This all reminds me of what
one of our blighter college co-
horts said last fall at the begin-
ning of our misery "College
wouldn't be so bad if wo just did-
n't have to study!" If that's the
case it should be getting pretty
good now that this antiquated
thing called study is becoming a
iclic of the past.
Professorial Potshots
Along this same" line but with
just a little different viewpoint
a professor from Tulsa univinsity
has tnken some potshots at us and
concluded that there is n serious
lack of deep thinkers among stu-
dents. According to hirtij "Stu-
dents just want n good job they
aren't thinking." But then a man
doesn't have to be a PhD to know
that anyone can see that who
can see thiough a 20-foot ladder
with lungs three feet apart.
Sleeping Colls
Thinking gives most of us a bad
headache. It's something like an
office softie playing his first game
of tennis in tlnec year lie wakes
up the next inorning with stiff
muscles and an aching back. De-
manding too much work from our
sleeping brain cells is enough to
give anyone n headache.
Stuffed Wildcats
Wait n minute. Hcic we are
wav off on headaches and we be-
gan with Christmas vacations.
But there is some connection.
Stuffed Christmas tuikcy in an
over-stuffed stomach is enough
to give anyone a headache.
What's the moral of all this?
Whenever you sit down to do
some concentrated thinking or
eating don't forget that extra
bottlo of aspirin.
Letters to the Editor
t . rr
I wonder if we at ACC don't
deserve to hear both sides of any
question. Especially ones about
things we know little about.
I refer particularly to the one
being booted around here most
often: Is our government headed
in the wrong direction?
Chapel speakers and your own
editorial writers say that it is. It
Radio Log
Saturday
KWKC 6:45 a.m.
Francis Churchill presents
"Farm Facts and Farm News" on
Voice of Agriculture.
Tuesday
KWKC 3:00 p.m.
Moments Musical presents the
A Cappella Chorus.
KRBC - KRBC-FM 7:00 p.m.
John Stevens presents History
in the News.
Thursday
KRBC - KRBC-FM 4:00 p.m.
O. C. Fisher U. S. representa-
tive from San Angelo will bo
special guest on A West Texan's
Viewpoint.
may be; I don't know. However
I'd like to hear what those on the
other side of the fence those
people who back the picscnt ad-
ministiation have to say.
Vou can do us a distinct ser-
vice by unveiling the other half
of the piescnt economic and po-
litical picture. Then we can weigh
the question -in the balance and
come up with a valid onswer.
I'm not an editor but if I were
one I'd handle controversial
questions like a cop handles traf-
fic ot an intersection. I'd let the
traffic flow both ways.
Richard J. "Heed
CSO Red Cross
Play Santa Claus
ACC Red Cioss chapter is spon-
soring the making of 35 iaG dolls
for the children at the State Hos-
pital. These children can receive
toys of this nature only. Tho CSO
has consented to take tho lead in
the construction of these dolls
with tho help of the Ladios Biblo
class of tho College church which
will furnish mntorlals for the
dolls. ' . v. -'
i r
The Alarming Reporter
i
JOLLY ROTUND Mrs. Bertie
Cummlngs manager of tho col-
lego cafeteria has hor share of
this world's troubles. No mat-
ter what she serves in our chow
hall The Bcanery tho students
usually yel for Fish '53.
I CAN'T VOUCH for this story
but it's being told around the
journalism department for the
truth. After hearing a lecture
on newspaper reader intelli-
gence Betty Elrod ' Optimist
editor on leave of absence this
week called a meeting of her
staff.
"Y'all" said blonde bespec-
tacled Betty "we've got to
change the name of tho paper.
While we're intelligent and
know what optimist means
some of our readers may not
know an eye doctor from any
thing else."
THE PICKWICKIAN club is a
fine organization of campus
writers. It's rather exclusive Hind
I haven't made it yet. IloWdver
I hope to crash the select cir-
cle with tho following poem?
It's tho little things that irk'us
And drive us to the rack;
Wo can sit upon a-mountaln
But wo can't sit on a tack.
A lot depends Upon whether or
not English Professors Watson
and Garrett the affable but cX-
ui; uny tu-spunsurs in uiu uiuui
tnUn flip Ynnrtninn T rlfnnprl It
from.
ORLAN MILLER the Arkansas
traveler and debate team wheel1
I1
I
hopes tho same thing doesn't
happen Christmas that happen-
ed Thanksgiving. Sitting down
to a turkey dinner ho compli-
mented his wife upon tho way
she had stuffed the old bird.
"Thanks dear" she said "but
this turkey didn't como empty."
GOOD REPORTERS arc accord-
ing to movies and tradition a
hard-bitten and skeptical lot. To
live tip o this standard I view
with alarm a number of things:
1 1. These ACC girls who wear
mistlctop in their hair.
2. The heavy touch tho boys
put to me when 1 carry tho ball
in touch football. My blue eyes
were blacked and my floating
r'b was sunk the first game.
3. The case with which tho
campus grill relievos mo of my
alowance. I'm just kiddln' in
case you read this Dad; my
money really goes for notebook
paper.
4. Girls who say "I used to
. like you . . v until I met . . ."
5. Teachers who throw the
curve balls I foul off.
G. All teachers not covered
under 5.
A MERRY CHRISTMAS scoson to
those of you who read this little
colylim. Remember there are
only 15 days until Christmas.
Don't forget hisher present.
You might play it safe though
and wait until Christmas Evo
before making tho purchase.
There's always a .chance you
may break up.
Who's Who"
Jumping Jimmy Jividen
Keeps Busy on Campus
Friendly hardworking Jimmy
Jividen junior class president
looks more like a piofesslonnl
wicstler than a preacher.
But looks are deceiving; Jimmy
is a preacher About the only
I Jimmy Jividen
thirifs lie wrestles are his boojq
M-rmons student government
and intramural sports.
Jimmy wasn't a wheel when-he.
arrived on our campus two years
ago. A faim boy frqm Woodward
Oklahoma he was as he himself
by BUI Fling
puts it "strictly from the sticks."
A natural personality for mix-
ing plus "a lot of help from a lot
of guys" soon made him a hit on
the hill. During his freshman
year he was selected by his fel-
low students as member of the
House of Representatives. At the
end of that year his class elected
him president J
Likethe guy who built a better
inousetrap the sophs liked the
way he worked on his job. Result
ujhthis ppw'ntlQnj Tc-6lcction.-
:Jimmy is a member of the Ag-
tfie club Sooner club (I'd Sooner
dfc thrtn live in Texas) and Evan-
gelistic forum.
The most recent case of his
profitable work for his class was
Uie placing of second place in the
intramural speech tournament by
the juniors Jimmy was not will-
ing to tdl others to do. He showed
the wav by winning first place in
orntory.
.With plans for preaching after
graduation Jimmy is preparing
fnr that job bj' taking Bible
Christian education and working
in debate Ho preaches once a
month for the church at Wynoka
Oklahoma.
Except for his pleasant smile
and friendly manner one might
not recognize this quiet Atlas-
liuilt picture of humility as a big
man on the campus.
'TWAS THE NIGHT . . .
by Twlnklo Nagy
'Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the dorm
The girls were ironin' and
Packin' up a storm. '
The stockings were laid into bags with care
In hopes to be home before Santa got there.
No one was nestled all snug in their bed
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.
I had boxes and bags all over my bed
And I stuffed and I packed till I almost dropped dead
When out in the hall the keys made a clatter
'Twas Mrs. Sikes coming to see what was the matter.
Away to the cl5set I flew like a flash
Pushed in the boxes and then made a dash.
The room was as quiot as the new fallen snow:
The radio was off; the lights turned down low.
And what to her wondering eyes should appear
But a studious girl with a pile of books near
With Christmas cards all stamped and addressed
And holiday finery all laid out and pressed.
More rapid than eagles the minutes they flew:
Twelve o'clock one o'clogk and thermit was two.
Then classes then chapel the minutes flew past
Eleven-thirty; twelve-thirty; Freedom at last! ' J
Like dry leaves before a wild hurricane fly
When they meet with an obstacle. mount to the sky ;
So off to the Bus Stop the students they flew
With a hand full of bags and bus tickets too.
And then in a twinkling the sound was no more; "
The campus deserted as the village1 of yore. -j
But Thcard them exclaim eVe they vanished from sight
"Merry Chrjstmas to alland toajla good night!". . . .
in iwiwui wmmwmmfimw)Mrmi"mt
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 37, No. 12, Ed. 1, Friday, December 9, 1949, newspaper, December 9, 1949; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth99236/m1/2/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.