lmitotion Not Alwoys Flottery

The old adage to the effect that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, isn't always true.

Many years ago they built a beautiful resort hotel near Manila in the Philippine Islands. They built a great gallery around this handsome resort hotel, and lined it with a row of magnificent wooden pillars. These pillars were of solid Narra, a beautiful and very expensive Philippine hardwood. Even in the Islands this was a most expensive and precious wood.

When the hotel was finished. someone decided that those dense, glistening, yellow Narra pillars would have their looks improved if they put some nice, big knots on them. So they hired a painter and he painted plenty of big Fir

An Editorial

knots on those pillars which, just as they were, would have brought fame to the palace of a Roman emperor. Proving that there is no accounting for taste in the matter of wood and its looks. And likewise proving that imitation is not always sincere flattery.

And speaking of wooden knots, long ago when southeastern mills first started shipping Yellow Pine to South America, they used but two grades, common and star. A South American who had ordered a shipment of star lumber, naturally expected to get clear stuff. The lumber came heavily spotted with knots. He complained to the shipper, who replied: "What do you mean, knots? Why, Mister, those are the stars."

Colifornio Lumber Inspection Service Approved by Los Angeles qnd Counties

John E. Tur.n.ricliffe, general manag'er of the California Lumber Ir.rspection Service, reports that his organization has been approvecl for the purpose of grading lumber (all species) under the Western Pine Association rules and the rules of the California Redwoocl Association, by the Department of Building and Safety of Los Angeles and all of the various Southern California counties.

Under this new ruling, immediate steps have been taken by the California Lumber Inspection Service to make transit inspectors available for the retail and rvholesale companies in this area, Tunnicliffe said. Inspectors will be statior-red in Los Angeles to service dealers and wholesalers in Orange, Riverside, Kern, San Bernardino, Imperial, San Diego, Ventura and Santa Barbara courrties.

According to Erik Flamer of the Southerr.r California Retail l-umber Association, establishment of inspector service in Los Angeles fills a long desired need in tl're ir.r<lustry at all levels.

"The California Lumber Inspection Service has been establishecl for several years wiih ofEces in San Jose. This orgar.rization holds certificates from the American l-umber Standards C<-rmmittee, the state of California, the U. S. Anny Corps of Errgineers and more than a dozen other agencies authorizecl to issue such permits," Flamer declarecl. \Vitli the approval of grade stamps of the California Lumber Inspection Service in the Sonthern California area, long delays for on-the-job inspection will be eliminatecl, it was salo.

Dealers, distributors and wholesalers alike can phone NOrmandy 5-5431, and the resident inspector will complete arrangements for the inspection with a minimum of red tape or delay.

"\\re have needed this gracle-stamping service for many )iears," said Flamer. "No\\' u'e have at last securecl the serv-