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OUR EPHEMERAL DESIRE
By Agatha A. Jones
To every man there openeth
A way, and ways, and a way,
The high soul climbs the high way,
And the low soul gropes the low;
And in between on the misty flats,
The rest drift to and fro.
But to every man there openeth
A high way and a low,
And every man decideth
The way his soul shall go.
—John Oxenham
It has happened again! Each time
you reach out to make that ephemeral
desire permanent, it always eludes your
eager grasp. Have you thought of a
way to solve the problem?
We all want to be happy and, believe
it or not, we all can be. Some of us
desire good health, popularity, and suc
cess; others of us may wish to achieve
only one or a combination of the desires
above. Well, regardless of the situation,
your purpose can be accomplished by
logical contemplation, self-will, and con
trol.
I should think that to have definite
objectives is a major factor to the solving
of the problem. For instance, if you are
subject to frequent colds, why not dress
for the condition of the weather? As
you know, in Atlanta one can not dress
according to the seasons. Do not wait
until after you have contracted a cold
to put on two or three coats and sweaters.
Never fail to wear raincoats, boots, and
scarfs, even though there is only a slight
drizzle of rain. You do not want to miss
classes or that “Y” dance because of a
sore throat and a cold.
On the other hand, you may desire
popularity and true friends. Has it ever
occurred to you that you could have both
if you tried? You could start by be
coming socially adjusted. Be friendly—
give a smile to the people you meet.
There will be no cost to you, and your
smile may make someone else happy. It
would be better if you did not build your
life around one or two people. Have
some special friends, of course, but be
“regular,” know many people and be
able to enjoy their company. Gossip
does not make one popular, so that is to
be avoided too. People are interested in
you and your problems only when you
show interest in theirs. Therefore, it
would be wise not to monopolize conver
sations by complaining or talking of
yourself at all times. Be grateful and
show appreciation for small gifts or
deeds done for you by others. Make it a
habit to do kind deeds and helpful tasks
for others. Be able to discuss current
affairs, popular movies, and books. These
are but a few of the myriad of ways to
becoming popular. I am sure you can
think of many more.
CAMPUS MIRROR
As for scholastic ability, we all have it.
What is needed most is the application of
same to subject matter. As John Dewey
says, “We learn to do by doing.” Learn
ing is active, and not passive. We also
learn by studying. It is a fact, however,
that some do not find it necessary to
study as much as others. Talents differ—
so heware! Competition with others can
be bad for you. I suggest that you
enter into competition with yourself—
and let your present achievement give
you victory over your past, and your
future achievement win victory over your
present. It might be well to attack the
subjects with which you have most
difficulty first. Conquer them now, be
cause if you do not they will be waiting
for your next year and you will have to
repeat them. Promptness to class (chapel
also), direct honesty and integrity play
a major role in learning; the immediate
result will be a satisfactory record—but
the most important or long range result
would be the fact that you have acquired
something invaluable: knowledge.
Make a new beginning. Make the
great and important decision in your
life. Do not walk the low way, living
from day to day without formulating
worthwhile objectives and striving to
achieve them. Do not become utterly
lost on the misty flats of indecision
and indifference. Be as the high soul on
the highway—take that ephemeral desire,
develop it into a concrete goal, and work
toward it day by day. It is not merely
your decision and your future; it is the
future of your generation. Why not make
that ephemeral desire an active and
worthwhile accomplishment? You owe it
to yourself, and to your fellow man.
—THINKING OUT LOUD—
By Gladys Turner
Dear Students:
’Tis time you became enlightened and
realized the ways of the world. Now,
when you stop to think, don’t forget to
start again. When you start to think
about it, however, charity should begin
at home, but most of 11s don’t stay home
long enough to begin it.
You know, college boys like ties with
dots in them, suits with stripes in them,
and letters with checks in them, n’est-ce
pas, Jean? Nine out of ten stammers are
men, and the women are to blame.
Women shouldn’t ask for so many ex
planations.
I’m gonna sneeze!
“Who at?”
“Atchoo!”
Finally, in briefing you on life, keep
ing up with the times, etc., I must say
that the game of love is never called on
account of darkness. And, if ignorance
is bliss, why aren t there more happy
people?
POET’S CORNER
Melancholy
Sad and lonely Melancholy wears a robe
of black;
Oft I tell her that I hate her, and loathe
her narrow track
To my quite reluctant mind, on which
she plans attack.
Each eve she smiles ironically upon my
stern protests,
And saunters down her narrow track,
with ardor, zeal and zest,
And takes possession anyway, in spite
of my unrest.
She unlocks all my memories; murders
my secret dreams,
Subjects my thoughts to ridicule, destroys
my hopes it seems,
And makes my very soul protest with
imaginary screams.
Sometimes she drives away my sleep, and
keeps me ’wake at night,
She does all this against my will, just
for her own delight;
And then at dawn she turns her back,
and saunters from my sight.
Gladys A. Eafl
HAVE YOU MET PIIYLON?
Have you met Pliylon, the Atlanta Uni
versity Review of Race and Culture? If
you haven't, there’s no better time than
now. Founded in 1939, with W. E. B.
Dubois as editor-in-chief, Phylon, to some
extent, was a reincarnation of the old
Atlanta University publications that were
issued between 1897 and 1914. From
that date, Phylon has come a long way.
Today it has staked out its claim as a
scholarly journal, the only journal of its
kind. Phylon stands on its record of ten
years of publication of high-level com
ment and belles lettres.
The editorial staff of Phylon is com
posed exclusively of Atlanta University
professors. Who doesn’t know Dr. Mo-
zell C. Hill, the editor? And, of course,
we all are acquainted with Dr. Tillman,
Dr. Bond, Dr. Clement, Dr. Jarrett, Dr.
Coulborn, and Dr. Nabrit, members of the
editorial staff. Contributors to Phylon
hale from all parts of the country. The
editors scrutinizingly seek out high-qual
ity contributions—scientific articles, es
says, humane letters, short stories, poems,
photographs, selected reviews, and ap
proximate art forms that describe and
analyze the factors that affect societal
balance and cultural integration.
If you haven't met Phylon, then do. A
gesture of kindness by Dr. Hazel B.
Foster has made it possible for all to
meet Phylon without difficulty. She has
presented to the Spelman College Library
a gift subscription to Phylon for the year
of '50. So go to it! It’s worth your
while !