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The Campus Mirror
Spelman Community Council
Back Rou': Evelyn Pittman, Miss Cooke, Annie Motley, Dr. Albro, Dean Lyons, Clara Stanton.
Front Row: Mamie Bynes, Birdie Scott, Carrie Adams, Margarite Simon, Curtis Miller,
Frankie Butler, and Lottie Lyons.
Ivy Oration
On Thinking and Wishing
Cora Estelle Douthard, ’33
Americans are affected by a peculiar
wish-coinplex. So prevalent is this complex
that it is impossible to say that we as a
nation have the fundamental characteristics
of the ivy, for the ivy vine never hesitates
to climb and grow and cling, in the face of
all difficulties. We, however, sit down and
plan to become millionaires. Yet when the
time comes to execute our plans, we doubt
fully withdraw and announce that money
i>n't everything, some one has to be poor. We
would like to see our names in flaming bill
board head lines, yet we sorrowfully remind
ourselves that Douglas Fairbanks and Norma
Shearer have set the publicity standard
so high that we’d never have a chance. A
freshman comes into college planning to
be a football captain, the band leader, and
honor student and a student of high integrity.
After he meets the first few classes, he lowers
his goal-posts and apologizes to himself for
wanting t'» take so many honors, when he
i> only a mere freshman. An office worker
wishes an increase in salary, but does he
ask his boss for it ? He does not, but comes
home to his wife and enlarges on his merits
and the reasons why he should have tin*
boss’s job. The salary increase, however,
is never realized because he is afraid to
ask the boss. Certain groups of students
sit calmly by, gently accepting what ante
bellum administrations would have them
receive, because they are afraid to ask the
administration for what they want. A
factory strike is started and every man is
the heartiest supporter in the group until
someone doubtfully wonders “if we can
put over our point,” or “hadn’t we better
abandon this strike and keep our jobs
safe?”
People who have the wish-attitude, ac
companied bv the Tm-afraid-T-can't-do-it
complex are those who form the masses,
not the classes. The law of averages re
quires that some do better than others,
but does it require that the majority of
mankind be satisfied with obscurity?
Too many of us are inclined to doubt our
selves- -to wish for things, yet fear we won’t
succeed. \Ye are afraid to push out for our
selves.
It you don’t win honor for yourself, who
do you think is going to cram his down
your throat? Do you think Al Smith
would be the present Al Smith had he not
wilfully come out of the slums and made
a place for himself? Or suppose Henry
Ford had timidly sat down and lamented
that opening a car factory was a mighty
big job and In* would more than likely fail.
Would Lindbergh ever have made the flight
of his life if he had woefully sat down and
(Continued on Page 15)
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Our Heritage
Birdie Lucii.e Scott, '33
What shall we do with our heritage?
From the dim dark caves of the past it has
come;
From heights which only star-dwellers can
know;
From sea-depths fathomed, but now, by man;
And from souls of old bards clear visions
still come.
We accept with reverent pride.
With humility deep and sincere,
The challenge this heritage offers
Without dismay or fears.
As heirs, we’ve received from the past
Not treasures of silver or gold,
But f ar more permanent jewels
It is now our pleasure to hold.
A part of our legal estate,
Of land explored, consists,
But much of our heritage
As virgin soil exists.
Where and how shall we
Our heritage fully invest
That the profits which we gain
Will meet a genuine test?
We’ll sow the seeds in the soil
Of the lives of men we meet,
Enrich their coffers with happiness
And await the harvest complete.
As legatees worthv the trust
Which our fathers committed to us,
As honest sharers of every good:
Of courage and trust, of faith and hope,
Be it ours to endow the future
With treasures richer than ours.
0 souls of our distant past!
How it stirs our hearts to think
Of the patience with which you strove
That we at rare fountains might drink.
I he throb of the hardship and toil
Of those who have gone before
Purges our souls to the depths,
Drives us to find the right door.
Now meet we the challenge of fathers
W ith resolves, both piercing and keen,
To find the hunted-for paths
Which by them were glimpsed, but not
seen.
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