INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPEK F. B. BOYD. Owner and Publisher Subscription Rates. One copy, one year '$ 0 le copy, six months Ciie copy, three months '5 Athena, Oregon, January 14 1927 THEATRE FIRE PANICS As is usually the case, the appal ling loss of children's lives in the Montreal theatre disaster resulted wholly from panic and not from fire, as the blaze was a trivial one. To all intents and purposes the Montreal theatre was built for safety of its patrons in case of fire. It had four ample exits. Three of these through coolness of direction on the part of ushers permitted the lower floor and one side of the balcony to be emptied with order and without injury. But the fourth exit became jammed witn little human bodies as the result of panic where panic was not justified and where competent direction would have guided the little ones safely to the street. Apropos of the Mon treal trngedy, attention of Press readers is here called to conditions of safety under which the local thejtre is conducted, in strict conformity with regulations laid down by the of fice of the State Fire Marshal. The aisles in the Standard Theatre more than conform to required width; there are four exits all in straight line leading from the auditorium and three exits with out-swinging doors leading from the building; the operator's booth is lined entirely, sides, roof and' floor, with iron; the projecting machine, modern in every respect, is equipped with automatic fire shutter, and two approved firo extinguishers are at the hand of the two operators, one of whom must be constantly at the side of the ma chine. These precautionary methods are not only employed at the Stand ard Theatre, but are required of all theatres, and these requirements re sult in holding theatre fires down to trivial consequence so far as fire dam age is concerned the mere loss cf several thousand feet of film and a water-drenched operating booth, where the fire is bound to be con fined until extinguished long after the audience has hud plenty of time to retire from the building. For ex ample, picture film is made of cellu loid, it is highly inflammable and so sensitive to heat that it will stand exposure in one spot less than half a minute when stopped in front of the powerful lamp globe in the ma chine. It is the stoppage of film in the process of passing through the machine before the globe's powerful ray of electric light that causes the film to burst into flame. To pre vent this, two appliunces serve in the capacity of protection. The second the film stops still in the aperture 'plate in front of the light, the auto matic shutter falls in front of the i.i the plate, directly across the light ray. This failing to function, u hand shutter is there for instant use by the operator, who has absolutely nothing to do while the picture is running, but to be ready to trip the hand shutter and keep the picture in frame on the screen. Hut in event n film fire should occur in the Stand ard booth, the booth would be in stantly closed. The flame, no more than of ordinary fireplace dimension or intensity, but accompanied by bil lows of black smcke would burn for pvrhnps five minutes before broakin;: through into the main building, it' tr.it controlled by the fire extinguish ers sooner. Thus it will be seen that plenty of time is given for all to quit tiie building in no danger whatever. In event the theatre were to hi emptied, a few cool heads would pre- -il for quiet and orderly exit. The c-iildren in front would go through the two rear exits, passing through the big door at the back end of tlw j 1 lilding. Some of the adults would I that way, but the bulk of the i audience would pass outto the street 1; rough the two big double door exit.! j in front. And once starting oik no I i ie should attempt to turn hack, i t 'eking somebody. Right there would! c isue the inevitable struggle and j i ramble in which the ones on the j f')or would be trampled by the on?s j Oil top. And always, always remrm-! 1 r that if it should occur, for f.u. , 1 ng minutes a film booth fire is no '1 ,gor than the blaze in your (iro- .ace at home-that it is coiiline i ' thin iron walls, and only that the ' t ioke is bigger and blacker. j day. If rail revenues were derived en tirely from freight service it is evi dent that every car loaded would have to pay $7 of railroad taxes.. Freight service, however, accounts for about three-quarters of the railroad's total operating revenues, so the tax paid by each carload would be approxi mately $5.25. The net revenue for each freight car loaded on this com pany's Pacific Lines during 1925 av eraged less than $35. If this basis was maintained during 1926 the $5.25 in taxes would amount to about 15 per cent on the next revenue per car. For 1925 our Pacific Lines taxes, both Federal and state, aver aged 8.3 per cent of total gross re venues received. .Railroads probably are the only business enterprises in America taxed in excess of the total amount of dividends paid to stock holders, the owners of properties which move the bulk of the nation's commerce. o Uncle Sam and John Bull talked for the first time over the new radio phone service between New York and London, Friday forenoon. "Hel lo," "Are You There?" passed in mid ocean, and that was all there was to the successful beginning of a new means of communication between America and Britain. Republicans are asking for changes in the Washington state primary laws which will tend to restore party responsibility. Just to what the ex tent of responsibility asked for, may be gagued opposition to the change. o A gallant young old groom of 82 winters, took a winsome young old bride of 80 summers and filled out the first marriage license for 1927, issued at Corvallis. May they live long and prosper. o Charlie Chaplin has brought a $500,000 damage suit against the Pictorial Review Publishing company, which shows that Charlie is chasing after the coin when off the screen as well as on. The Los Angeles Times observes that automobiles may be putting a few railroad trains out of business, but not when they meet on grade crossings. o A wise man once said: "If vou marry the right woman, there's noth ing like it; if you marry the wrong woman, there's nothing like it. o Long Creek has been visited by an air plane under forced landing. Long Creek is not far from beaten paths, after all. Klamath Falls, Eugene and Salem stepped up in building operations in 1920, each with a gain of more than $1,000,000. Sold by Auction Morganatic marrliiges of royalty are freely discussed, hut perhaps the most curious stories lire aliout the auction ing of wives which took place ns re cently as !H) years ago. According to the Annual Register the Inhabitants of Carlisle witnessed the sale of a Wife by her husband, Joseph Thomp son, In 1SD2. A bellman was sent round to give notice of the sale, which Jttrncled the attention of thousands. The woman stood on n large oak chair with a rope or halter of straw round her neck, and Thompson addressed the crowd. After nn hour or two she was pur chased by a pensioner for the sum of 20 shillings and a Newfoundland dog I London Tit-Hits. B, 192, Western Newapaper Union.) To try Is better than the thins; you try for; To hope Is higher than the thing attained; To love Is greater than the love you sigh for; To seek Is nobler than the ob ject gained; To wrestle with the angel this avails Although the motive for the wres tling falls. POPULAR FOOD Now Is the time for all good house keepers to serve the wild mushroom. It will be found In woods and pastures and when served with cream on toast makes a dish of rare flavor. Broiled mushrooms are delicious. Place the caps on a but tered broiler and cook well on the top, turn and cook on the other side; In each cap place a lump of butter and serve on toast, or as a garnfsh for broiled steak. Deviled Mushrooms. Mix a tea spoonful of mustard, a dash of cay enne, a tea spoonful of Worcestershire sauce and half, a teaspoonful of pap rika, cover broiled mushrooms with this mixture and serve on hot buttered toast. Grape Mold. Take four tablespoon fuls of granulated gelatin, soften with two tablespoonfuls of cold water, then add the Juice and grated rind of a lemon, two and one-half cupfuls of grape Juice and one-half cupful of sugar. Stir until well dissolved and the gelatin has begun to thicken, then add one-half pound of grapes seeded and skins removed. Pour Into a wet mold and set away on Ice to harden. Date, Nut and Pineapple Salad. Chop a cupful of dates and three good-sized apples, add a cupful of chopped celery and a cupful of broken nut meats, one-half pound of seeded and skinned grapes. Mix all together and heap on a slice of pineapple which has been marinated In French dress ing. Serve with mayonnaise dressing. Marshmallows may be used In place of nuts If cut fine. Peach d' Armour. Fill tall glasses with peach Ice cream and sufficient raspberry juice to run down through the glasses and color the cream. On top place n spoonful of plain vanilla lee ereiim and garnish with a fresh raspberry or two. When stirring food In n small dish on the stove steady It by using n clothespin. Eugene Council Names Mayor. Eugene, Or. A. L. Williamson, ' member of the council for the past four years, was elected mayor of i Eugene at a special meeting called last wesk. Five of the eight mem- bers of tha council were present. Mayor Leo was elected by the coun i ell about a month ago to serve the unexpired term of former Mayor E. B. Parks and was rs-elected at the last election. He resigned a short time ago, effective January 1. Cold Feet "Po you suffer from cold feet?" the doctor asked the young wife. "Yes," she replied. lie promised to send her some med icine. "Oh," she replied nervously, 'they're not not mine." Wind's Great Effect on Personal Comfort Personal comfort at any time of the year depends to an astonishing degree on wind ; that is on the motion of the air. An Interesting experiment, de scribed by a writer In the American Magazine, illustrates the point. To find out the different effects of still air and of nlr in motion, tt man was shut up In n telephone booth. The booth contained an electric fan and It also bad tubes through which fresh air could be supplied. The man had a lighted cigarette. With the electric fan cln8. and with no fresh air coming In through the tubes, the man was comfortable, even after his cigarette had gone out because of lack of oxygen to burn. But when he was shut up in the booth without the fan being turned on, he was soon in great discomfort, even though he was being supplied with fresh air through the tubes. "Curiosity Killed the Cat" Just how this saying got started Is unknown. There was an old proverb that a cat has nine lives, yet care would wear, them out. Another version of the proverb Is that though she had nine lives care killed the cat Probably "curiosity killed the cat" Is merely a corruption of the former saying. Its popularity seems to rest on the alliteration of the three bard i"c" sounds, rather than on the sense of the expression. Exchange. CLASSIFIED Donald McFadyen will have Rhode Island Red baby chicks to sell this season also White Leghornes. Can do some custom hatching at 7 cents per chick. Prices on baby chicks will be quoted in next issue of The Press. EVERYBODYS GOING! CALIFORNIA bids you turn back the calendar to summer and come play in the warm sunshine. As an added inducement the Union Pacific now offers special low round trip fares and assures you a marvelous journey on the finest of fast trains. Connections via Portland or Salt Lake City. MAKE TOUR RESEHVATSONS MOW Wm C. M. EAGER, Agent Athena, Oregon His First Love Affair If n boy who has been notoriously careless of his personal appearance suddenly begins to show some Interest In the condition of his face, neck, ears and wrists; agonizes over the part In his hitlr; takes his fingernails out of mourning; discovers overnight that a toothbrush Is of practical value In stead of uselessly ornamentnl, and de mands a clean shirt every day; If, we say, and when, this amazing meta morphosis occurs, remember the basis on which the old French detective used to go to work "find the woman." There Isn't another thing under the sun that will produce such a revolu tion. Philadelphia Inquirer. Practical Four-Room Plan for That "Castle in Spain" MILLION A DAY TAXES One million freight cars loaded j c eh. week and seven million dollars ( 1 : id in taxes every seven days, were . ong railroad records of 11)26, nc i i'ding to J. T. Saunders, freight ivnnngcr for Southern Pacific com pany. Wc have just closed the first year in the history of American railronditnv t'u ring which the car-loadings of the ( ' :ss 1 roads have averaged a mil lion a week," Saunders said. '"It was also the first year in which the taxes paid by these railroads amount pd to more than a million dollars a Tower Famous Landmark As a landmark, nothing can equal a tower In a hilltop. For Instance, the r.oted tower on the top of Lelth hill, the culminating point of the North Downs, England, can be seen 40 miles away. The story goes that It marks the spot where on eccentric farmer of the neighborhood was burled on horse back, and upside down, so that when the world was turned topsy-turvy at the last day he wortld be In the right position. This story Is probably found ed on the fact that Mr. Hall of Lelth place built the tower In 1700. and was '. tzU tlnne U years in'or. 1W Iff MhW tear.. 1 ,ns D. J. McFaul, M. D. Office over Inland Empire Bank Pendleton, Oregon Specialising in Electro and Quartz Lamp Therapy, I I ' . -fr n 1 s JHfiH ItteoH R IVINO too !! I toeeuT !S!tM 4" t-nzr-i?"?- - T t i -;-1tt.v,:i ?..; ' s FLAGSTONE terracing, Iron grille bal conies and a quaint wrought Iron lantern give distinction to this little old world one-story hou-e. Rough plaster wall and a colorful ttle roof make an attractive exterior that will find a welcome In any neighborhood. But a carefully designed floor plan la Its greatest appeal. One enters from the covered loggia directly into the large story and a half living-room, with Its trlple nrched windows reaching from the floor al most to the celling. The dining room al cove Is conveniently located and well lighted. The kitchen haa been deftly planned to give the housewife the greatest comfort and step-saving. Everything about the house has been planned to give the utmost In stability und real home comfort. The walls and ceilings are Insulated through out with celotex to cut down the coal bills In winter and keep the house cool In the summer. Who could wish for a more beautiful Utile home. . & CeloUchule InlMtBTt, ChfcaBfl. li - HtM FIOOL PUN' CtitlNft MIAMI tttt'tl Oil Your Harness While you have the time to do it right Our Oil It's the right kind Also this is the time to get set up for the plowing season. Our spring stock of new plows is now arriving. ROGERS & GOODMAN ( A Mercantile Trust) The Athena Hotel J. E. FROOME. PROP. Courteous Treatment. Clean Beds Good Meals Tourists Made Welcome Special Attention Given to Home Patrons Corner Main and Third Athena. Oregon Jensens Blacksmith Shop Horseshoeing Prices Reasonable Tharp Bros, old stand, Athena Oreg. At Finch s HOOD RUBBERS FOR MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN CATTLE KING HIGH AND LOW TOP RUBBER FOOTWEAR FOR MEN Cleaning and Pressing G. W. Finch, Prop. Main Street, Athena, Oregon Real Estate Insurance Farm Loans Cheap Money v ii:!)IIHB!ilM I THE I KILGORE CAFE GERALD KILGORE, Proprietor I Short Order Lunches and Meals served atall hours. Ice Cream and Soft Drinks. A full line of Candies. NONE BUT WHITE HELP EMPLOYED j Gerald Kilgore, Proprietor - - Athena, Oregon B. B RICHARDS, Athena Claud Dickenson Phone 452, Athena, Oregon Auto Truck Dray City and Country HAULING Always at Your Service THE ATHENA MARKET DR. S. F. SHARP PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Athena, Oregon DR. W. G. COWAN PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Athena, Oregon DRS. A. D. & R. A. FRENCH OPTOMETRISTS French Optical Parlors 13 E. Main St Phone 6SS WALLA WALLA, WASH. We carry the best Meat f That Money Buys Kippered Salmon, all Kinds of Salt Fish. Fresh Fish, Oysters, Crabs, Clams, Kraut in Season. A. W. LOGSDON Main Street Athena, Oregon. Foley's Kidney Cure fluics kiiseys mad bUdJer tixht ESTABLISHED 1865 Preston-Shaffer Milling Co. AMERICAN BEAUTY FLOUR is made in Aihena, b ' Athena labor, in one ol the very best equipped mill in the Northwest, of the best 'selected Bluestem wheat grown anywhere. Patronize home industry. Your grocer sella the famous American Beauty Flour t Merchant Millers & Grain Buyers J Athena, Oregon. Waitsburg, Wash