Ffoo-Hoo says "Many Happy Returns!"

A Greeting from Peter A. Simpkin, Chaplain,

Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo.

It is a pleasure to be permitted on behalf of our merry brotherhood of The Great Black Cat to pen a birthday wish to "The California Lumber Merchant."

The Lumber Merchant has given four years of brilliant, constructive service to California ,Retailers-and the whole lumber fraternity. On its notable success and service wc qffer warm congratulations.

With that trade service it has also given a loyal support and splendid aid and publicity to this brotherhood of the Lumber world.

Every trade organ that serves Hoo-Hoo serves itself.

With each passing month Hoo-Hoo is advancing steadily to that bala-nce of strength East and \Mest, North and Seuth which will make it of value incalcuable as a voice, an enlightner and a bond for the men of lu,mber.

In season and out of season the Supreme Nine,. the Secretaqy's offi.ce and the brotherhood have all been heartened by the support of this paper and those of the trade through the United,States and Canada.

Gratitude for that loyalty comes in the wish for many, many prosperous years and an ever finer service to the great lumber business.

Despite the untoward conditions that affect manufacturer and distributor of lumber adversely, this year there is a good volume of business.

Hoo-Hoo finds just now a steady growth over the continent.

It is wise enough, at least, to realize that the laws of business work inexorably; knows that only keen efficiency can meet the demands of business as it settles toward the nor;mal volume and level; that only brains and clear knowledge joined to economical administration can serve a possible working unity and a common welfare.

Hoo-Hoo believes that it holds a solution for many of our trying problems.

That solution lies in a spirit and a rationde both simple; both calling for the contribution of each man's heart and brain to the end that in brotherly relations and a kindly atmosphere there may come a vision which shall make cooperation function in place of the old, unlimited individualism that destroyed, even without intent, in blind and senseless competition like that of the wolf-pack.

Good sense dies in the atmosphere of suspicion and ignorance. ft fowers in the blossoms of kindly, tolerant knowledge and fruits in the wise harvest that can be alone gathered in the just, fair dealing that works reciprocally.

The spirit of Hoo-Hoo is one of merry affection that finds the humln bond more vitally valuable than aught else..That spirit elevates the ideals of honor, integrity and service to our time in the best we can give.

Its rationale is practical. ICseeks to appeal to the self-in' terest of all lumbermen by a devotion to such programs as rise out of forest and mill and factory and yard and that lead.us to an effort to educate men in the vital things that mean the continuance and the good health of the industry. Unless we can secure economic soundness and reward within the business it is vain to seek aught else.

On that economic foundation it seeks to set ideals of service to humanity.

As it seeks by ideas to create ideds it is conscious that the most vital ihing just now is to create a vision and a brotherhood of A UNITED INDUSTRY.

Hoo-Hoo is passionately devoted just now to this first necessity of seeking Lumber-unity.

In the late war an American officer found it necessary to send three volunteer American lads on a scouting trip to the enemy tre.nches. On the way over to No Man's land one was [illed. The others finished the task, found on their way back the body of their chum and dragged it to the French trench. With help it was borne back of the lines for burial. A little church, half-destroyed, was still served there by its priest. The American lads asked permission to bury their buddy in the little churchyard, but being a ,Protestant that was not possible. They buried him just outside the cemetery fence, and marked the grave with a rude cross. After some time they returned to visit the spot and were distressed not to find the grave. Going to the church they urere cordially welcomed by the priest and wh,en they told him they couldn't find their pal's grave, he said "Come with me !" and led them to the grave inside the cemetery. Surprised-they asked how it came-the ptriest replied "f was distressed because I could not bury a Protestant who had died for France in my cemetery. Canon law forbade that-but there was no law preventing my enlarging the cemetery and consecrating the ground where your chum was buried-so I moved my fence."

That is our present task. In it Jack Dionne and his men have given great aid. We are grateful and look with confidence for an advance in this year that shall help all lumbermen to move their fences and take into calculation the wellbeing of all the other men of lumber.

We value most in the Lumber Merchant its fence-moving spirit.