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Age not guaranteed---Some I have told for 20 years---Some Less Things Hod Brighrened Up

In The Los Angeles Mirror-News, that good columnist, Matt Weinstock, tells the following story, which has added much to our mirth:

A hungry, thirsty rvino sat under a railroad bridge, disconsolately pondering his fate, and decided to end it all. As. a last, decent gesture he started to compose a farewell note to his dear old mother. He wrote:

"Dear Mother of Mine: Just a few lines to let you know that I'm a failure, a no-good bum. Demon Rum has bested me. I have no money, no home, nothing, g9-"

'Merchcrnf' Keeps Them in Touch

We have received your magazine for some time now and enjoyed it very mucl.r. It has kept us in touch with the new things that come along, rvhich in turn we were able to pass on to the trade.

-Pagel Lumber Companv Tucson, Arizona

He paused and gazed absently around. Suddenly his eyes focused on a bottle in the weeds. He got it, found that it was nearly full of his favorite muscatel, and drank it.

Then he went back to his letter: "-$e if you ever need help, Mother, be sure to let me know. Your Son."

Ccrlifornio Tops U.5. Home-builcllnn

Six states account for almost half of total U.S. homebuilding, and the leading 15 states for more than 75/o of it, according to a survey of the Commerce and Labor Departments reported in House & Home, professional n.ragazine of the homebuilding industry. Based on the government's figures for 1955 nonfarm housing starts, California rvas far and a'rvay the first with 212,493 new units started, or 18.5/a of the national total, and Nerv York second. rvith 93.882 starts, or 8.27o. Texas u'as third rvth 69,214.

Plans for 375 nelv homes, including five residential tracts, are before Ventura, Calif., city officials.