Potato Eyes RONA MORRIS WORKMAN ROCKING W RANCH We celebrated the Fourth in a rather peculiar manner on the Rocking W this year. Knowing that practically every man, his wife and dog would be heading for the coast or other wide-open spaces, we decided it would be safer, far more comfortable and doubtless more productive if we remained at home and planted po­ tatoes. Now to the average consumer of the lowly spud, I can well be­ lieve that the task of planting them must seem a most un-in- teresting one. I have indeed often heard the expression “as uninteresting as a potato” used to describe some particularly stu­ pid person, but I don’t think that is fair to the potato. Heaven knows that I get tired of cooking them, for my Big Boss is one of those “meat - potato - and - gravy­ men” and I could have macaroni, rice, spaghetti and bread and beans on the table at the same time, yet he would look question- ingly around and inquire mildly, “What, no potatoes?” So I have cooked the darn things at least twice a day—and often three times—for thirty-two years and doubtless will continue to do so until he or I move on to the place where, I fondly hope, there are no potatoes to peel or cook. However, my personal feelings toward a potato does not destroy the fact that they are interest­ ing. They apparently have that certain something which appeals to the masculine nature; in that respect they do resemble blondes, although I have never heard of a wife being jealous of a potato. One can do a lot of thinking while cutting potatoes for plant­ ing. Our New Daughter helped me cut them thq other day. She confided to me that she, being reared in the city, had never thought how potatoes were prop­ agated. Had she been asked, she would probably have replied that they must come from little seeds, like carrots or radishes, and the idea of their having “eyes” seemed very amusing to her. Potatoes not only have eyes, but they have as many diseases as a neu­ rotic woman and can prove just as exasperating. Sometimes they make a fine showing of growth, like some folks I have known, but when you start digging you find that they have produced nothing but a few warty, scaly little runts fit only to be thrown into the discard. A bad potato can also infect the soil where it grows just like a bad human being and make it unsafe for another gener­ ation, and if your seed is not clean and good, you cannot ex­ pect, no matter how caruful you are, to raise a firm, healthy crop. Yes, potatoes are rather like folks. ; And I was thinking, as I cut two eyes to a piece, that plant­ ing potatoes is like living. Some of us are rather “small potatoes” in this big world, but if we come of good stock, if we have no inner rot and we “winter well,” then we can add our quota of “eyes” to the common, good of the future. If we are free of the disease of hatred and fear and greed we shall not infect the portion of the earth in which we have grown, nor will the ‘seed-eyes” we give to the world carry any taint of destruction. If one grows good disease-free For Pasteurized THESE DAYS insurance buyers want to know more about the company back of the policy. Rate concessions mean less to them than the reputation and financial security of the company in which the insurance is written. We represent strong, reliable stock insurance companies VERNONIA INSURANCE EXCHANGE MILK CREAM and BUTTERMILK right from the farm to your door, write or call Telephone No. 7F51 CUR PRODUCTS ALWAYS SATISFY 11-22-46 PEBBLE CREEK DAIRY 905 Bridge Street Phone 231 Vernonia Timber Rt., Box 56 Vernonia, Oregon [ J.E. Fossum Electrical Service Knight’s Bldg., 706 First St., Vernonia CONTRACT — DAY WORK — INSTAL­ LATIONS — ALTERATIONS — REPAIRS Home Commercial Phone 423 Industrial Experienced cabinet maker. Mill work built to order. Free estimates. Plumber. Repair and new installation. Call for free estimates of work. Electric water systems. Free installation & free service for one year. Al Norman Ed Roediger C. I. Anderson Banks Bank Name Changed New War Assets Office Opened Earl A. Bowman, vice-president of the Washington County Bank of Banks announced this week that the name of the institution has been changed to The Com­ mercial Bank of Banks. This bank has been affiliated with The Commercial National Bank of Hillsboro since January, 1944. The officers of The Commercial Bank of Banks are: J. L. Searcy, president; Earle A. Bowman, vice- presidenf; George Laver, cashier; and R. E. Coe, Jr., assistant cashier. Total resources as of June 29th, 1946, were $1,262,000.00. War assets administration, the government agency handling 90 per cent of all surplus property sales, will open for business in its new location at Swan Island, Monday, July 8. All activities, including those of the public interest and veter­ ans’ division which issues eligibil­ ity certificates to ex-GIs, will be housed under one roof, the for­ mer personnel building. The new location provides am­ ple space for parking and the Portland Traction company will start running buses direct from Fifth avenue and Stark street to the WAA building. Office hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The new telephone number will be TRinity 1121. The question of a new building passed the debatable stage when the Portland regional office took over the sale of consumer type of goods in Oregon, which for­ merly was handled in Seattle, as well as the sale of defense plants, airports and similar real ’ prop­ erty in the northwest, according to C. T. Mudge, regional director. Mudge announced also that Klam­ ath and Lake vcv-'ties, which had been in the San Francisco region, had been added to the Portland region. > • potatoes and sends them out into service, he is doing his best for the food supply of the world. If the e\es of these potatoes are planted, the good is multiplied. I wondered as I sat in the occa­ sional bits of sunshine by the barn and plied a busy knife, if our thoughts and words could not be compared to seed-eyes. They are a part of us; they embody the wholcsomeness or the rot of our inner core, and they produce their like if they are planted in the soil of a receptive mind. Scientists are just beginning to realize the importance and the actual force of thought, although two thousand year- ago a Master Psychologist said “As a man think- eth—so he is,” and He but re­ peated a truth which had been handed down from the remote past. Modern phychologists have re-discovered that thoughts not only affect the one who thinks them but also others within the radius of that thought—and they have not yet found out exactly how far a thought can tyavel. You can no more know where your seed-thoughts go, or in what gar­ dens they are planted, than you can know where your seed pota­ toes go when you send them to market. It has been my observation that folks are more concerned with the seed they plant in their gardens than they are about those ‘they sow in their minds, and they cer­ tainly do a great deal more fer­ tilizing and cultivating of their vegetable gardens than they ever think of doing for their mind­ gardens. Yet it is reasonable to believe that you cannot raise anything worth having in a mind that is fed constantly with trash, gossip and petty fault-finding. The seed-thoughts which may come from such barren hungry soil will never produce “good po­ tatoes.” I think potatoes are very like use common folks. They and we form the foundation of meals and of a country, yet there are so many of us that we, like pota­ toes, are taken for granted. But I am very sure that it is upon us, the common people of the world, that the real responsibil­ ity for the future of our civili­ zation rests. If we can keep free from the rot of greediness, the scale of political corruption, the blight of racial hatred and mis­ understanding, and will realize our value in the scheme of things, the future of the world is safe. I have been sitting at the edge of the clover field while writing this and watching thq Big Boss mowing. It is quitting time. The big grays are looking longingly toward the barn and their supper of oats and hay. Perhaps the Big Boss is also thinking of his supper. I must wander back to the house, build a fire and peel potatoes. I think I’ll give him ham and brown gravy with his potatoes tonight, with fresh straw­ berries and perhaps hot biscuit and gooseberry jam. After all, my man has had a busy day. KEASEY—Mrs. O. B. Bittner has been visiting in Portland the last few days. Mr. and' Mrs. Chet Fugate, Mr. and Mrs. Norgard and) children of Portland and James Bonnick cele­ brated the 4th together at the Fugate home on Rock Creek. Those who celebrated the 4th at the D. R. DeVaney home were: Mrs. L. C. Boesk, Mr. J. L. Counts, Mr. and Mrs. B. Burndt, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. DeVaney Mrs. A. B. Counts and! Mr. and Mrs. H. Counts and daughter. Mrs. Julia Boeck has been vis­ iting her sister, Mrs. D., R. De- Vayel, and brother, Herb Counts. V. E. Cleveland went to Hills­ boro over the 4th. Visitors at the O. B. Bittner home in the past week were Mr. and Mrs. W. Lindsay, Mr. and Mrs. Pope, Mr. and Mrs. Laycox, and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Osborn. G. O. Brown’s sister from Port- • A self-charging portable radio is being produced. Get A Complete Summer- Proof Job Here Riverview Vernonia, Oregon Loans, Discounts Show Increase A record-breaking increase in loans and discounts handled by the United States National Bank has been announced by C, H. Vaughan, manager of the St. Hel­ ens branch. In its statement of conditions to the comptroller of currency, as of June 29, 1946, the United States National bank reported loans and discount amounting to $82,988,- 257.11. This figure represents a gain of $36,092,899.41 over the corresponding call date in 1945 and a gain of $14,407,369.78 over the December 31, 1945 call. Resources as of June 29, 1946, amounting to $570,921,112.72, in­ dicate an increase of $40, 856,- 189.79 within the 12-month period. Deposits now stand at $543,773,- 775.34, an increase of $34,178,- 210.93 in the same period. H Navy Engineer Returns From Australia, Guests Being Entertained RIVERVIEW—The C. I. An­ derson home is alive with happy guests this week. Mrs. Norma John of Portland came out Sat­ urday to join her daugnters, Donna and Lea, who spent a week at grandfather’s house and Mrs. Sam Anderson and children, Leon and Linda of Ocean Lake arrived the latter part of the week and all will be here until the coming week end. Alfred Sanders, 3d assistant navy engineer wrote his father, George Sanders, that he had ar­ rived in San Franpisco July 2nd from Brisbane, Australia, and expected to get home this Week. Phil Johnson of Eugene was an overnight guest at the Bert Bassett home Wednesday while on his way to Longview, Wash­ ington, to celebrate the Fourth. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Butten- hoff of Portland surprised the Wyckoff family Sunday by driv­ ing out for a visit. Mr. Butten- hoff and Mrs. Wyckoff are cou­ sins. • One of the nation’s leading auto manufacturers deliberately cut its profits on manufacturing opera­ tions in half as a World War II measure. OPA Ceiling Prices In Effect on these H Household Necessities H H H H H H H H H H H H H Aluminum Heavy Cast Sauce Pans With Lid OPA Ceiling $3.95 Heavy Cast Aluminum Skillet OPA $8.95 With Lid " ‘ Ceiling “ ■" Cast Aluminum Griddle OPA Ceiling $4.95 OPA Ceiling $2.50 Kromex Ware Broiler Ekco Pressure Cookers OPA Ceiling $14.80 Four-quart size Granite Double Boilers OPA Ceiling $1.25 With Red Trim Genuine Triple Tin Ccated Pie Tin OPA Ceiling 25c Kromex Ware Kakover OPA Ceiling $1.98 Stew Pot OPA Ceiling 75c Hoffman Hardware Co. H X H . . . "I know what Fm talking about when I tell you: Go to Desay’s for the best bar service in this ‘neck o’ the woods.' ” Dessy’s Tavern H H H H H H H H H H H KHXHXHXHXHXHXKXHXHXWXHXHB DRIVE IN TODAY SICKS’ SEATTLE BREWING & MALTING CO. Since 1878 f. G. Sick, Frei. For More Shopping SatisSaction TAKE A TIP FROM THE WISE OLD OWL— H H For Values—See Hoffman PHONE 181 Vernonia, Oregon H Let us put your car in first class condition for summer business and pleasure driving. We are equipped to do the job fully Open: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Corner Bridge & Weed Oregon-American LUMBER CORPORATION land, has been visiting with rela­ tives over the week end. Mr. and Mrs. Miller called at the Herb Counts home Tuesday. Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hall and Mrs. Nan Hall were callers at the A. B. Counts home a few days ago. • JAKE’S SERVICE ANDERSON WOODWORKING SHOP Phone 575 July 4 Visits Are Tabulated THE EAGLE, VERNONIA, ORE. THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1946 5 Buy Early In The Week Early «hopping provide* you with an opportunity to give our stock a more careful examination and to make a larger and more complete selection. Come early—shop in leisure and enjoy Mill Market’s high-quality gro­ ceries! ’ Mill Market and Lockers PHONE 776