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Having had a number of inquiries regarding the little figures in the Zeesman Plywobd Corp. advertisement on the back cover of the September 1 issue of the MERCHANT, Jack Baser, general manager of Zeesrnan at the main office and warehouse in Los Angeles, furnishes these interesting remarks.

"Baseball," says Baser, "is usually thought to have been born about 1839 at Cooperstown, N. Y. Its origin seems to be somewhat obscure, some lhinking it is an American offshoot of cricket. The figures shown here were found in ancient tombs in Mexico, and are now in the private collection of Diego Rivera, Mexican artist.

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"These figures and stone carvings, parchment and deerskin books, and the remains of temple courts and buildings, clearly indicate that ball games were an important part of the life of the ancient American people, in Mexico at least," says Baser. "Of course, it is not known exactly what type of ball games were played, but apparently they were also a part of solemn religious ceremonies testing the skill and strength of players and their physical endurance. There are remains of buildings in Chichen-Itza, Yucatan, and ball courts at the pyramids of Teotihuacan, indicating that ball games were played there.

"The story of the earth, contained in the Maya 'Bible,' reads something like a modern World Series, because the story hinges on ball games contested between gods, or the sons of gods, and the things that happened in the universe each time some player won or lost.

"The particular figures shown here come from the Tarascan country (Michoacan), and we will leave it up to youdo they look like baseball players, or do they?" asks Zeesman's Jpck Baser.

Cqsement Units Stondord

A Recommended Commercial Standard for Standard Stock Ponderosa Pine Wood Casement Units was circulated to the industry for acceptance under date of J,uly 28. The Standard was proposed by the National Woodwork Manufacturers Association, and has been adjusted in accordance with the comment of other interests. It is identified by the designation TS-5272. Copies may be obtained while the supply lasts by addressing a request to H. A. Bonnet, Commodity Standards Division, U. S. Department of Commerce, Washington 25, D.C.