Friday, July 4, 1941, Vernonia Eagle, Vernonia, Oregon
lames Ililton Finds Shangri-La—and Loses It
......
Somewhere in Mountains of Southern Oregon
Those who read the book or saw th* mo­
tion picture. ’Lost Horizon.'• will recall
Author James Hilton » vision of Shangri-
La, a fanciful retreat from the troubled
world. Such a haven from care, Hilton
»ays he spied while flying over southern
Oregon. He describes it in this article con­
densed from The Oregonian magazine sec­
tion
The complete article will appear
July 6
8|*clsi Writer. The Oresoniui
Millions of men and women
have heard of Shangri-La. They
have seen it in the movies, read
about it in a novel which went
into 18 printings and they have
visioned it in their dreams and
fantasies. Shangri-La is the
mythical aurora-like sanctuary
in the mountains of Tibet con­
ceived by James Hilton in his
famous book “Lost Horizon.”
Each individual has his own
estimate of Shangri-La. But
what is James Hilton’s esti­
mate? In the opinion of the
author of Shangri-La, the most
striking actual counterpart of
that idyllic retreat is in the up­
lands along the Oregon-Cali­
fornia border.
Hilton’s geographical descrip­
tion is not much more specific
than that, except that the place
is somewhere between Mount
Shasta’s white dome and the
Medford airport.
Just Where Is It?
Exactly where is this Ameri­
can version of Shangri-La? Is
it Colestine, Oregon, or Horn­
brook, California, or any of a
score ot other hamlets and vil­
lages which dot the forests of
that region?
This is Hollywood's conception of Shangri-La, a cluster of
airy pavilions perched in grim Himalaya mountains of Asia.
Not even James Hilton is pre­
cisely sure where it is. He only
is sure that somewhere, some­
place, in the neighborhood of
the Rogue river and Shasta
national forests sleeps the quiet
little western town, which re­
calls to him the legendary clus­
ter of pavilions and dwellings
he created in “Lost Horizon.”
How did it all start? A few
weeks ago the noted author
flew north from Culver City.
California, where he is writing
movies, to speak before the In­
land Empire Education associa­
tion at Spokane. As his United
Air Line plane passed north­
west of Mount Shasta Hilton
was looking out the window at
the rugged country far below.
Nestled in the tree-carpeted
foothills he saw a village, a
group of houses clustered
around a clearing like straw­
berries on a shortcake.
Plane Beyond Shasta
The plane was somewhat be­
yond Mount Shasta's glacier-
barricaded ramparts when he
first spied the place. Huge
motors thrumming, the ship
was soon past the village. Hil­
ton watched with fascinated at­
tention until the group of wood­
en buildings was swallowed by
the green mantle of fir and
pine. Even after the place had
vanished from sight he con­
tinued to search for it in the
sprawling countryside behind
the plane. Finally he settled
back in a reverie and thought
over what he had seen.
At Seattle, and later in Spo­
Author James Hilton says he
found real "Shangri - La" in kane, he said that the nearest
mountains of southern Oregon approach to Shangri-La of
which he knew was “a little
town, up in the Oregon or Cal­
ifornia mountains, that I flew
over a couple of days ago. Mil­
lions of people in Europe would
think that town was Heaven.
The village was on the right
of our plane, very close to the
border between California and
Oregon.”
Retreat From Chaos
As he looked from the air­
plane that Sunday morning a
few weeks ago James Hilton
unquestionably did not see
Shangri-La as conceived by the
lavish designers of Hollywood.
Nor did he glimpse his own
airy pavilions clinging to the
grim face of the Himalayas.
What he sighted wac the al­
legorical Shangri-La, the sym­
bolic retreat, the place quiet
and apart from the bombs and
chaos and turmoil of a world
in crisis. Where is that place,
a place which connotes to the
author of “Lost Horizon” a
mythical village familiar to
millions?
Hilton insists he will make
every effort to revisit the area.
Perhaps he can combine air and
land transportation in his hunt.
He can fly over the terrain,
looking for hamlets which are
potential Shangri-Las, and then
he can inspect the places more
closely by car. In the mean­
while, at any rate, the search
is open to everyone and not
alone the author of “Lost Hori­
zon.” To fishing, camping,
hunting, driving and other at­
tractions of southern Oregon
and northern California now
is added another—Shangri-La.
TIME TO News of the
RELAX Theatre
“GREAT SWINDLE”
TO OPEN SOON—
During this vacation
week spend some of
your time at Dessy’s
where you can relax
and have fun. Dessy’s
is just the place to go
to enjoy refreshment
and an evening of fun.
Dessy’s
Tavern
DESMOND LAIRD
intrigue concerning a girl who mar­
ries the man she loves in order to
Starring Joan Bennett and Fran- get him out of a business jam;
cbot Tone, Columbia’s hectic new then she tries to keep him away
comedy, “She Knew All the Ans­ from the girl he loves.
wers,” opens soon at the Joy
Theatre. John Hubbard, Eve Arden
and William Tracy are important
featured members of the cast, and
Richard Wallace directed the film,
gay story of a night club perform-
er who goes to work on and in
FOR SALE—53 acres. On Beaver
Wall Street.
Creek road, south of Treharne.
“DARE NOT LOVE”
Inquire of F. H. O’Connor at Tre­
SUPERB ROMANCE—
harne.
27t6
Eight days to live and love!
Eight days ... so fleeting ... so FOR SALE—Second hand lumber.
rapturous ... so torturous ... so
$10 per thousand. Cedarwood
glorious! A strange, wondrous in­
Timber
Co.
27t3—
terlude between terror and doom
. . . thaat keeps your heart pound­
FOR SALE—Several yearling Here­
ing between thrills and tears!
They dared to love only when
ford heifers. Ray Tarbell, Houl­
they were doomed to part! That is ton, Oregon.
26t2
the gallant, powerful story of Co­
lumbia’s “They Dare Not Love,” FOR SALE—Private telephone sys­
with George Brent and Martha
tem. Inquire telephone office,
Scott. “They Dare Not Love' is a
26t2—
poignant, powerful drama portray­ Timber, Oregon.
ed by two stars who lift romance
into heart-soaring realms of real- FOR SALE—Two houses on Rose
ity.
Avenue across from creamery.
Mrs. Ada Fish, Corey Hill, Ver­
‘GIRL IN THE NEWS’ IS
nonia.
25t3—
Classified
Ads . .
BY RICHARD L. NEUBERGER
Flaming expose of a desperate
arson ring, Columbia's “The Great
Swindle” opens soon at the Joy
Theatre with Jack Holt starred.
Holt, as the insurance adjuster who
smashes the murderous gang, is
supported by a brilliant cast of
well-known character players, in-
eluding Henry Kolker, Jonathan
Hale, Marjorie Reynolds, Don Doug­
las, Tom Kennedy, Douglas Fowley
and Russel! Hicks.
5
“SHE KNEW ANSWERS”
WILL OPEN SOON—
MOTHERS—
Medical science has
proved that milk is
the most satisfactory
food for growing
children and adults!
Grade A Milk & Cream
Phone today for reg­
ular delivery to your
home.
Nehalem
Dairy Products Co
PHONE 471
THIS ONE
TENSE DRAMA—
The tense thrill-drama of an ac-
cused murderess is the story of
“The Girl in the News,” 20th Cen­
tury-Fox release, starring Margaret
Lockwood, Barry K. Barnes and
Emlyn Williams, the film relates
the suspenseful plot which twice
places a girl on trial for her life
for similar crimes — murder by
poison!
Nurse Graham’s fascinating story
has been called “the strangest ad­
venture a girl ever had.” Acquit­
ted once through the able service»
of the ’awyer who didn’t believe
in her, her attempt to start a new
life causey the same dread result
when another of her patients is
found dead of an overdose of sleep­
ing potion.
MUSICAL DRAMA—
Blending youthful romance, com­
edy and music. Universal’s “I’m
Nobody’s Sweetheart Now” will be
at the Joy Theatre soon.
How two pairs of young lovers
try to solve their romantic prob­
lems in the face of parental ob­
jections is the theme oi the pro-
duction, said to be one of the
brightest comedies of the season.
Dennis O’Keefe, Constance Moore,
Helen Parrish and Lewis Howard
played for the first time on the have the leading roles.
screen in Universal’s farce comedy, MOVIE PUBLIC
“Slightly Tempted.” Starring the LIKES COMEDY—
Believing that laughs create one
whimsical “woo-woo” man, the pic-
ture will be at the Joy Theatre of the most popular forms of en­
tertainment these days, Universal
with Peggy Moran, Johnny Downs,
studio executives have loaded their
Gertrude Cichael, George E. Stone program with comedies.
and Elisabeth Risdon.
One of the foremost of these is
Featured as “props” in hilarious “Hired Wife,” which comes to the
comedy scenes are the famous Joy Theatre soon.
Rosalind Russell, Brian Aherne
derby hat and cane which the act-
or carried as a jester in stage and Virginia Bruce are co-starred
musicals before he came to Holly­ in the picture.
The story is one of humorous
wood.
FOR SALE!—Fryers. Glen
Stoney Point road.
Bouell,
FOR SALE—Horse mower in good
condition; 4-foot cut; 2 sickle
bars. $27. Write A. L. Parker, Rt.
2, Box 114, Clatskanie, Ore. 25t3—
PIANO—Must repossess. Will leave
with responsible party. Sell cheap
for cash or some terms. Write
Box 115. Vernonia, Ore.
25t3
WANTED—Truck to haul shingle
bolts. See Thompson at the Cedar­
wood Timber company
14tf—
WANTED—Four shingle bolt cut­
ters. See Thompson at the Cedar­
wood Timber company.
14tf—
LAWNMOWERS—Ground and re­
paired by Electrakeen system.
Price $1.00. Will call and deliver
for $1.50. Guaranteed work. A. F.
Schalock, Riverview.
22t6
The dainty frock» you like to tee
your child wear need not be sav­
ed for “dress up” for there’s no
need of the extra work of hand
washing them. Just include them
with your laundry bundle and
they’ll
be
returned
as
gently
laundered and exquisitely ironed
as you could do them yourself—
and at low cost.
LAUNDRYuDRY CLEANERS
Pedestrian Protection
VtRNONIA
PHONE 711
SEA SIDE
PHONE 56 zrrr
LUMBER — SHINGLES — VENEER
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
See my bargain* in Kiln Dried Lumber at $8.75 per M. and up.
Open Saturday* from 8 a. m. to noon.
C. BItUCE
AVOID COSTLY REPAIR BILLS
BETTERMOTORING
You don’t know how smoothly your car can
really run unless it’s had complete overhauling
at Heath’s.
REASONABLE RATES
Warnings Painted at
Points of Danger”!
VERNONIA
SEA SIDE
EXPERT WORK
Heath’s Service Station
DISPLAYS STAGE
TRICKS IN FILM—
Many of the tricks and original
laugh routines which helped make
Hugh Herbert a comedy favorite
on the Broadway stage are
Doorbell
ringing-
easy style
SAM’S FOOD STORE
GROCERIES, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
An Independent, Home-Owned Grocery
FREE DELIVERY
Phone your grocery order to Sam’s and receive
special attention in the filling of that order. Any
There’s nothing mysterious about the
purchase you make will be delivered free.
way advertising works.
’• like the salesmen who go from
house to house looking for customers.
Advertising does the same job on a
larger scale.
’s quicker—reaches more peopl
at a lower cost per call.
In other words, it’s a time saver,
which means it’s a money saver as
Nearly half the pedestrians struck while crossing streets are
hit before they get more than four or five steps away from the
curb, according to Earl Snell, Secretary of State. Consequently,
many cities are painting safe walking suggestions on curbs, as
illustrated in the picture above urging pedestrians to look both
ways before starting across the street.
—Photo courtesy Oregon State Motor Association
well
The Vernonia Eagle