"Efficiency, Precision, Dependability 4nd Unfailing Courtesy Pays"-Koehl

The lookout man for The California Lumber Merchant dropped down to the model plant of John W. Koehl & Son, Inc., in Los Angeles the other day, and found the institution, the plant, and the personnel all that has ever been claimed for it-plus-so far as can be judged by a casual visit.

"Al" Koehl isthebig gun down there. His father, th'e creator of the firm, turned the job over to his son a long time ago, and has been glad ever since that he did. For the concern has kept right on "stepping out" under the skillful domination of that courteous and effrcient young gentleman.

The law of progress has proven to be a true lawin the firm of John W. Koehl &Son. It was fourteen years ago that they started that business out there, with a couple of thousand dollars in cash, and a million dollars worth of energy, ambition, and sticktoitiveness as their capital stock. And they have paid dividends ever since they started, not only the two thousand, but on the million as well. They simply followed the thought outlined in a recent leading editorial in these columns, and "Made their brains pay dividends."

Today they have a plant that they are justly proud to show the visitor. If you would see beautiful hardwood doors made in beautiful {ashion, drop out and "Al" will show you how it's done. Efficiency, precision, perfection in rvorkmanship, unfailing courtesy, and absolute depend- ability i1- t!r_e fulfillment of their contracts, are the things that "Al" Koehl harps on in his business. And he his proven in most practical fashion that it DOES pay.

They have a big warehouse w'ell stocked with- sash and doors of quality character for their wholesale trade. Their milling department makes only special orders.

The plant of the firm has been described in these columns before. But it is the spirit, the principle behind the Koehl institution that makes it an interesting and outstanding one.

Today the two thousand in cash has grown into in investment of two hundred thousand, and th-e spiritual investment spoken of before, has grown in proportion.

Never in the fourteen years thev have been in business hqr Jg\" W. Koehl & Soir gone in the red a single season. This is'indeed a proud record when it is remeribered the troubles and tribulations, the ups and downs, and the ins and outs that the building game of Southern California has known in that time.

The answer is that they have always made, sold, and stocked products that they had faith in, and never sold them for less than they knew they were worth. And there are a whole lot of people in business who have never learned that it is better to keep their product than to give it to someone.

Make it good, sell it right, get a fair price, and collect the money. That is the Koehl theory of business.

It is rvorthy of emulation.

The Lost Was Found

"\i[/hen I was a little boy" sweetly piped the hardsergeant, "I had a set of wooden soldiers. One day I lost these soldiers and I cried very much, but my mother said 'Never mind, Johnny, some day you will get your soldiers back.' And believe me, you woodenheaded bunch dumb-bells, that day has come."

The Most Independent Man in History

The most independent man that history makes note of, was the old philosopher Diogenes, who lived in Corinth in the fourth century B. C.

FIe was a great friend ofthat most marvelous of all human thinkers, Aristotle, and Aristotle was the teacher of Alexander the Great, who conquered the world, and sighed for more worlds to conquer. Alexander, the great king, had heard much of Diogenes-the man who lived in a tub and carried a lantern in the day time searching for an honest man-and when he went to Corinth on his triumphal march, he expected to have the philosopher come with the throng that paid him homage. But, look as he would, Diogenes never showed up.

So, since the philosopher would not come to the King, the King u'ent seeking the philosopher. He found him in the market place, sitting in the sun, deep in thought. The King of all the civilized world stood before him, and said: "I am Alexander. What can I do for Diogenes ?" The old riran looked upon him long, and then dryly remarked: "You can step aside and don't keep the sun from shining on me while I think."

Again, it was reported of Diogenes that he did not, as good citizens all did in those days, make sacrifice to the Gods. (Ever since religion began, little men have been constantly accusing big nten of such things.) So one feast day, when the multitude was gathered, Diogenes appeared in the Temple, and cracking a louse on the altar rail remarked : 'iThus does Diogenes sacrifice toall the Gods at once."

A dusky son of Alabama was busily engE-g\ hunt-u'hen asked bya sergeant what he .wa in a cootie doing, he replied:

"l'se a-huntin' fo dem 'rithmetic bugs."

"What do you mean, arithmetic bugs? Why you call them arithmetic bugs ?"

The Preacher Broke Him

After a young colored couple had been married, the groom turned to the parson and asked:

"How much does Ah owe yo' Rev'ren?"

"Oh" said the Preachet,"pay me whatever you think it's worth."

The young groom regarded his bride with adoring eyes. Then he turned to the minister and said mournfully:

"You's done ruined me fo' mah financial life, Pahsun, yo' sho' has !"

To The Absent Ones

(The following is from the last page of the printed program of the recent annual convention of the San Joaquin Valley Lumbermen's Club, at Fresno, which progran-l was prepared by the retired President Jack Ferger, of Fresno.)

us drink to those who Are notwith us tonight."

"Let

"Caus€ dey add to ma misery, pleasure, dey divide ma attention, hell." dey subtract and dey from ma Itiply like .

TAXES \

The taxes are indeed. heavy, and if those\laid by the Government were the only ones we had to pal, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many\others and r-nuch more grievious ones to some of us. W{ are taxed twice as much for our IDLENESS, three times a$ much by our PRIDE, and four times as much by our FOI{LY. And from these taxes the commissioners cannot easeior deliver us by allowing an abatement.-Benjamin Franklin.

May some taste of our cheer and merriment come to those who, for one reason or another, could notjoin us; may those whose business called them away, meet success in their efforts; may those whom' love called away, be crowned with happiness; may those whom illness has kept from us have the blessing of good health, and that speedily. And to those who are in far countries, may the subtle current of friendship carry to them our heart-trorn messages of fellowship and faith. And to those who are in that "far, far country," whose voices it seems at times we can almost hear in the murmuring ofthe breeze at twilight, in the laughter of the breeze at dawn; whose faces come to us in the dreams that hold us through the long hours when we sit and think upon old times in the ingle-nook; whose hands we sometimes almost touch as we reach to the dim veil that hangs between this world of ours, and that world of theirs beyond the mountain peaks that stand between time and eternity-to them let us drink the love and friendship which, because it is love and friendship, is as eternal as the stars, and as undying as the soul. Let us send to them over and over, every happy thought, every smile, every gladness they gave us while they were with us, for to them it is given to know that when we are happier here, they may be happier there. God bless them ! The absent ones rvho are alwavs with us !

Generally True

Even the most Puritanical minded man will admit that the stories and reminiscences told by a profligate are usually ever so much more interesting than those told by a prude.