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About Vernonia eagle. (Vernonia, Or.) 1922-1974 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 1944)
found it impossible to cultivate the land and grow crops. A field might be plowed up one week, sown with wheat or'planted with potatoes the next, and the third week, lo and behold, a grove of Tald here is the origin of the story is: trees would move in. These were Christmas’ tree af discovered by When Trees Ruled the Land usually older trees which had James Stevens, biographer of In the time of Paul Bunyan gotten corns and bunions on their Paul Bunyan in “Brawnyman,” “Paul Bunyan,’’"‘•Homer in the and Babe the Blue Ox trees were roots from years of traveling Sagebrush’’ and other books. Ste here today and gone tomorrow. about the country. Naturally, the vens also writes a weekly column In that fact lies the invention of soft soil of cultivated fields had entitled “Out of the Woods’’ logging. In it, indeed, lies the a special appeal to them. As the which appears in this paper. His invention of the whole lumber . word got around among more and more groves of traveling trees, industry. And when I say “lies”, I mean more and more of them moved in just that. Read on and you shall on Paul Bunyan’s farms to take rcot and settle down and pass see. Paul Bunyan, as you ought to the rest of their days in comfort know if you don’t, was such a and ease. So at first trees were just a mighty man that his cast-off sus pender buttons were used for plague to Paul Bunyan. All one wagon wheels—and big wheel? year he schemed and figured on ways to get rid of them. It was they were to. In the winter of the Blue the measles that first gave him Snow when Paul first came to the great idea that led to the in real manhood, America was i vention of logging. different country from the land Invention of the Razor and the Ax At that time it was believed we know today. There was no standing timber. that when a body got the measles, The tree of that time pulled up the only way to cure them was to roots and trotted off when the shave off the spots. That was how spirit moved them, or migrated the razor came to be invented, in great groves from North to simply to shave off measle spots. South in the winter and from So When the measles broke out South to North in the spring. among his farmhands, Paul Bun Trees ruled the land until Paul yan sent over to the King of Europe for a special measles ra Bunyan appeared. At first Paul was a farmer, or zor. When he got it, naturally, thought he was. All the first all whiskers of his patients were men sent over by Pete the First, shaved off to boot, along with King of Europe, were farmhands. the spots of measles. ‘By the jowls "of Jehosaphatl’ But Paul and his farmhands soon roared Paul Bunyan,’ if whiskers can be shaved off a man’s face, why can’t trees that have taken root to stay in the fields be shaved off likewise? It’s just a difference in size; it’s the same proposition when you get to the bottom of it. I’m a-goin’ to try it out!’ No sooner said than done. The first trees ever chopped down on the American Continent were felled with Paul Bunyan’s mea sles-razors. From then on devel opments came thick and fast. and a Paul soon saw that the razor was no implement for timber felling, so he invented the ax and then the cross-cut saw. He We take this opportunity to changed his farmhands into log gers, and Babe from a plow ox thank our many friends. It has into a skiding ox. He invented the term “standing timber” for the been a great pleasure to know trees which had taken root to stay in his farm lands. you and work with you. Stevens Tells Origin Of Christinas Tree From R. D. EBY, M.D. Happy New Year like pups, and they gave Paul Bunyan plenty of trouble. Groves of them pestered the men in the Bunyan camps night and day. On cold nights it was common for a ljgger to wake up and find that trees had crawled into his blankets with him to get warm. Or a man would take a seat without looking, then sud denly straighten up with a yell because a young tree had curled up in his chair. The young trees got into Paul Bunyan’s beard and into the hair of the Blue Ox, un til Paul had to invent tree pow der to get rid of them. ‘This here just can’t go on,’ Paul Bunyan declared at last. T got to teach trees to stay put be fore they are old enough to make so much trouble.’ Th«. First Scared Christmas Trees Paul Bunyan came to that con clusion on a stormy winter night just one week before Christmas, when trees were tramping into the bunkhouses until there was no room for the loggers. It did not take him long to figure out a way to keep the young trees in place, after he’d pondered for a spell. ‘It’s the nature of trees to like to be prettied up,’ pondered Paul Bunyan. ‘Most of them grow flowers and fruit, and turn their leaves all colors in the fall. That’s why apple, oak, holly and such kinds of trees are contented to Thursday, December 21, 1944 The best of the sea son’s greetings to every one. PEBBLE CREEK DAIRY HAT stauncher tree than the oak, and what stauncher friends than ours? Each year at Christmastime we realize more keenly than ever that cur success in this community is deeply rooted in the firm soil of friendship. We cannot tell you in so many words how much these friendly associations mean to us, and how we cherish them. But we know you will understand. W es for a happy holiday to all our customers. Soden’s In this spirit of appreciation we send our sin cere good Christmas wishes to you and to all those dear to you. THE PAL SHOP Our Special — Black Walnut Tree« in Hi» Beard MR. and MRS. JEWETT A. BUSH, SR. Here’s where Christmas trees come in. In a few years Paul Bunyan had all the grown-up trees of the country tamed so that they would take root and stay in one place until they were logged. But the young trees were harder to change. As soon as they were weaned, they’d go frisking off, .«? 4- arber Shop CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS MANY thanks to our customers for your steady support during the past year, and many sincere wishes of-the season to all. Be seeing you soon! Vernonia Eagle grow where they are put, and not roving off into devilment. Pine, fir and spruce trees don’t have flowers or fruit, and their leaves don’t turn in the fall-time. But if they could be prettied up somehow, I bet they’d be more contented to take root and grow proper.’ Paul Bunyan called out his loggers for a confab, The upshot of it was that there was no more logging for the week. In stead of swinging axes and pull ing axes and pulling saws, the brawny men of Paul’s outf’t worked day and night making ribbons and bells, candles and stars, for prettying up the young fir, pine and spruce trees in the camp. On the night before Christ mas Paul Bunyan herded and coaxed all the young trees into the big cookhouse, which was so big that they used wagons and four-horse teams to fill the salt (Continued on page 6) LOADS OF HAPPINESS TO YOU! Christmas of 1944 is going to be a BIG Christmas. See if we aren't right and a HAPPY We wish our customers and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. NEW YEAR May YOUR Christmas be boun teous and full of good cheer, and may our greeting and best wishes add just a little to your pleasure this Yuletide. OREGON GAS AND ELECTRIC CO. DESSY’S TAVERN Marge and Mike White HOFFMAN HARDWARE COMPANY “...and on earth peace, GREETINGS good will towards men.” T ‘ & • I There is something in the very season of the year that gives charm to the festivity of Christmas. —WASHINGTON uving 1HE nearness of Yuletide is unmistakable. Whether snow festoons the fir trees or whether earth still awaits its mantle of white, woods and fields, city and town breathe Christmas and its spirit of kindness. We sincerely hope that the Christmas sea son of 1944 will be richer for you, fuller, and more satisfying than for many a year, and thank you for twelve months of very pleasant relations. MR. AND MRS. HARRY CULBERTSON SHORTY LEE TRANSFER And to each of you who read this message that enraptured happiness which comes only at CHRISTMASTIME SCOTT STUDIO 5
