Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 30, 1906)
3 6 THE SUNDAY: OREGOXIAX, . PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 30, 1900. fiJj ft n o u)IE J0 P2 Sf r II" . . : . I v- U 1 ' J- . 4. J 4!i i lrkterfl&i&ice m These Would Move J in f i ' I 'in i G&IZZLY GAAT ' ; . 'TTiis Great Trr Stood 3rfore. 3?mQnfy?ri $ TAe 4?s. ..... SPEAKING at the recent Irrigation Congress in Boise, Idaho, United States Senator Hey burn, of Idaho, tot occasion to make a bitter attack on the foresty policy of -the United States. Ho said that President Roosevelt was to blame for permitting to be foisted on a free people a policy which made the Government seek to . secure control of huge tracts of forest land. i lie ocuttior iiisibieu inai loresis were a monarchical institution, and that every government In Europe had formed a fixed plan to secure possession of as much woodland as it could. "Forestry," said the Senator, "has been fostered as a policy to uphold the leisure ly, lazy dignity monatchs." He further charged that Chief Forester Clifford Pinchot, was wrong in his work of trying to get from individuals the for est expanses that are being converted into Government parks. The speech made considerable of a fu rore at the conference, and the criticism of the President was roundly hissed. A number of delegates, including Con gressman Reeder, replied to the attack on s President Roosevelt, but all missed the defense that would have silenced criticism. They failed to tell the story of how the Government has saved the forest giants of the wonderful Big Tree Grove, 30 miles from the Yosemite Valley, in California. This is one of the wonders of the world; it is decidedly-. Niagara Falls alone ex fepted, the most impressive display of Nature in this country. Yet if the Heyburn idea had been al lowed to rule, the towering sequoias would long since have fallen victims to the ax of greed. Misfortune Avoided. This misfortune has been avoided by the wisdom of the State of California and of the United States Government. There were times when the marvelous sequoias were in danger. Three million feet of lumber in one tree might well tempt the greed of any lumberman, and when in this one grove it is mentioned that there are many trees of this size, whose wood is so hard that it takes on the finest kind of a polish, it will readily be seen that there was. need of caution to" prevent spoliation. When the big trees of the Mariposa Grove were discovered at late as 1S53, by a "hunter who had been drawn into the district while In pursuit of a wounded bear, the tale of their wonderful height and girth was at first treated as the mouthing of a Baron Munchausen. The skeptics deemed it incredible that any tree could mount till it attained the altitude of 400 feet. Trees 90 feet in diameter sounded like - tory to tax the unbelief of Satan, and 11 A7A3POSA GJ&CVE (I D 5 -I 5 v 1 x r ,4?,. 4?. V 4 if I ll 'i ' l l t I !i ii 111 4? 22- It r ... . K I .?:--v Mfj '"Wit FALLEN MOffAACH' MAJSlPOSA Geovz? There Is Enouoh 1 Thrs Tree 7oPanJc Broacfaai From. Battery 5VaJison. Sqcutre people Jeered when it was related that 20 men of average height, with arms out stretched could not make a ring that would encircle one of the big fellows. But when investigators went to the Mariposa they found out that there was no strain of falsehood in the amazing tales. Then came the desire to profit by the wealth that lay stored in the huge trunks and branches. For a time the majesty of the forest was protected by the lack of means for hauling the lumber after It had been cut. But the quick advance of California transportation facilities soon put the big trees in genuine peril. Majesty of State Intervened. Then, It was that the majesty of the state interfered to protect them. In IBM the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Groye of big trees were by law made a public park, and it was decreed a crime to tut down the forest giants. Those who fell, and blocked passage way were ruled as legitimate 'Prey - of the axman, and there is little doubt that in the early days, when the difficulty of po licing the tract was much greater than it is now, that many a surreptitious ax was laid at the base of trees that had been standing for 7000 years, and were actually the oldest living things in the world. California discharged its trust well, but now even stronger protection has been thrown about the forest kings, for the tract has just been ceded to the United States Government, and from now on it is the strong arm of Uncle Sam that will be raised to punish th,e vandal who dares any outrage on the venerable sequoias. ' The transfer of the Yosemite galley from state to Nation was quietly accom plished. There were no ceremonies and no speeches, though the occasion mlgnt well have merited official, observance.. - There is now an almost royal domain under the control of the Government In this region. There is first the Yosemite Valley itself, a grand cleft or gorge in the granite peaks of the Sierra' Nevada Mountains, with a level floor containing 3000 acres of grove and garden and sur rounded by an almost perpendicular wall of granite from 2500 to 9000 feet in height. Surrounding this on all sides is the Yo semite National Park, containing 625.o acres, which was created by Congress in 15P0. And around this again is the Sierra forest reserve, with an area of nearly 1,000.000 acres, or 1500 square miles. - Purely Unselfish. The acquisition of this territory is deemed monarchical by the narrow-minded like Senator Heyburn, but It is hard to find an adequate argument against it. As a matter of fact the motive is purely un selfish. It means the preservation to fu ture generations of the natural beauties of their native land. There would be pathos indeed In the mougnt tnat xne "vvawona" must passtl away merely to gratify senator Heyburn's fears of monarchy. This wonderful tree Is the oft-photographed one that Is so wide that through a hole cleft in the base of Its trunk, two coaches carrying full complement of passengers can pass each other without touching. And the won derful part of it is that the big fellow Is still growing, and putting forth new leaves every year. . "TUe Grizzly Giant" Is noted for its huge limbs. The first of these, which shoots out 125 feet from the ground, is wider than the ordinary tree, for the diameter exceeds six feet. -- This limb is strong enough and broad enough to permit the passage of a stage coach. The "Haverford" and the "Ohio" stand side by side. Both trees are nearly 300 feet in height. A man perched, on the WAWOm' This Tree Is OOO Feet fStqh and JO fc T7 rough . 77ip7lanee &oa.ctua.y o x z. ftJa S tfJ o tfrecr Ifcon rts Mtaiity top branch could look over the roof of almost any skyscraper in the land. Two of these trees put In a line would make a length as great as the longest ocean liner that travels the Atlantic. Twenty men on horseback standing In a line are not enough to hide the front of such a tree. Posteritv would have a stern grievance if the stupidity of the United States Gov ernment ignored the wonders of this grove and permitted them to be wiped out of existence merely for the selfish profit of lumbermen. Entirely too much of this sort of vandalism has already taken place in this country. Precautionary Measures. It Is to the credit of Uncle Sam that he has taken every precaution to guard against the loss of a single tree in his grove of giants. He has guarded against other perils than those of the prcdaceous lumberman. The danger of consuming forest fires has been ever present, and to prevent these from getting a headway and devas tating the grove, the Government has fitted out trained corps of fire-fighters. The most famous group of rangers is known as theVWhlte Horse Troop." Every Summer a troop is detailed from the Department of the Pacific- These men aro trained in tho proper means to deal quickly and successfully with forest conflagrations. They spend all the Sum mer and Fall months in the woods of the Yosemite and Sierra National Parks. Not until the snows of Winter make It safe to withdraw, do they go away. Undoubtedly their efforts have preserved many a great tree. This Is all money well expended, and none but the ignorant and frankly com mercial will begrudge It. The natural beauties of our country are, next to liberty, its most priceless heri tages, and future generations of Ameri cans can justly charge remissness against present authorities if every effort is not only made to preserve the most wonder ful grove of trees in the world, but also what remains of our rapidly disappearing forests all over the' Nation. Great Soldiers and Sailors as Adoring Husbands "Those who scoff ?t the Idea of love long surviving matrimony," said Lord Roberts recently, "should read some of the letters written by the world's great est soldiers to' their wives after years of life together. ' For tenderness and deep affection these letters penned by men whose life, one would think, left little room for sentiment, may well challenge comparison with the - effusions of the most ardent lover In the halcyon days of courtship." How true Is this statement by a. great soldier who Is himself still as ardent a lover of his wife as he was nearly 60 years ago,' the following ex amples will prove: ' To his last day there were few more devoted husbands than Prince Bismarck, that grimmest of soldiers, who. to the world, was known as the "Man of Iron." Indeed th letters . written to his wife. many of them amid scenes of carnage and all the horrors of war, are among the most beautiful in any language. "My beloved heart," "my deart heart." "my love," "my angel," "my 18 years' beloved heart," "my sweetest, dearest heart," "my heart's Nanne," "my be loved Nan," "my little dear" his letters are crowded with these and countless similar pet names; while every letter, to the very last, breathes the most charm ing and tender devotion. "My angel," he writes, "If I only had you here and could take you with me! My angel, when shall we see each other again? Would that I could" hold you In my arms for only one moment, and tell you how I love you, and beg you to par don me for what evil I have ever done you, my sweetheart." "Last night I grew so sad and sick with longing that I had to weep when I lay in bed." "The prolonged separation is very distressing. What are all festivities and aittm to me if you fall ill? Misery would then take the place of joy." "The place Is really splendid,' it only lacks you, my angel, so that I might enjoy this pros pect with you; and then It would be quite perfect." "Do write to me very often; it is my only ray of light here when I see a letter from you; which forms the long, thin thread of communication between my love and me; otherwise I live here simply like a machine." These are extracts taken quite at ran dom from two volumes full of similar evidences of the deep, passionate love which this stern arbiter of Europe car ried through all the long years of his happy wedded life. Marlborough's letters to . bis beloved Duchess, Sarah, reveal a similar passion "I do love and adore you with all my heart 'and soul," he writes; "so much, that by all that Is good I do and will ever be better pleased with your happl nua than my own; but oh! my soul, it wo might be both happy, -what Inexpres sible Joy that would be! I will not dare to expect more favor than you shall think At to give me; but could you love me. I think the happiness would be so great that It would, make me immortal." And again: "I am Impatient to have you with me; do not lose a moment in coming to him who adores you above his own soul." Napoleon's' letters to his wife, Jose phine, are similarly Infused with all the ardour of the passionate lover. "I have arrived at this place, my dearest love," he writes, "and my first thought Is of writing to you. Your health and your Image have occupied all my thoughts oit my way hither. I shall not be at ease till I rerpive letters from you. I expect them with the greatest eagerness. It Is Impossible to tlascrlbe to you my Im patience. I feel dull, sad and half sick. If the deepest and tenderest love can make you happy, you ought to be so. I am overwhelmed with business. Adieu, my dear Josephine. Ive me. Take rare of yourself and think often, very often, of me." Stonewall Jackson's letters to his wife are equally full of the tenderest endear ment. He calls her "my pet." "my sun shine," "my little somebody," "my darl ing." and his trying words to her were, "Cheer up, Anne! You . know I love a bright face in a sick room. Speak distinctly: I want to hear every, word you say." Oliver Cromwell was to the last his wife's adoring lover. Thirty years after he led Elizabeth Bourcliicr to tho altar he wrote to her. ' "Truly, if I love you not too well. I think I err not on th other hand much. Thou art dearer to mo than any creature: let that suffice." And she answers in similar strain: "Truly, my life Is but half a life in your ab sence." Nelson's letters to his wife prove that a sailor can be as loving a hushand as a soldier. After 11 years of wedded ,lfe he wrote: "Rest assured of my most perfect love, affection and esteem for your person and character, which, the more I see of the world, the more I ad mire." "My dearest Fanny, absent from you I feel no pleasure; it is you who aro everything to me. Without you I care not for this world. These are my pres ent sentiments. God Almighty grant that they may never change! Nor ill 1 think they will. Indeed,' there is, as far as human knowledge can judge, a moral cer tainty that they cannot." And Lord Ool lingwood. Nelson's friend, thus wroto to his beloved life-partner the year after Trafalgar: "This day. my love, is the anniversary of our marriage, and I .wish for many returns of it.. If ever we have peare I hope to pend my latter days amid mv family, which is the only sort of happiness I enjoy. To be by your side Is heaven to me." London Tlt-Btts. Transplanted Itor. John Kendrlek Bangs In the Century. In reading o'er the wondrous screeds The publishers indite To tell the eager man who reads About the chaps that write, It pleases me to note the way They dub the new-fledged strlplins; "Th Mrs. Ward of Ioway." "Th Oklahoma Kipling" "The California Tennyeon." "Kentucky's Bernard Shaw," "The Thackeray of Oregon," "The Calne of Arkansaw," "The Maupassant of Michigan," "The Dickens of Nevada," Are ilways ready standing In Our- literary larder. With 'pride it Alls my soul to fe That In our wondrous land We've got somewhere a Richard Steele, Likewise a Sarah Grand. In Massachusetts Andrew Lang. Are reckoned by the twenties.; The air of Maine quite heavy hangs With Hawklmee and Hentys. But I should walk with prouder eyes If British publlshalres This method took to advertise Their fresh Britannia wares. I'd like to see the scheme reversed. Bo that their six best sellers Should have their claims to fame .reosaraM In terms of Yankes fellers. If he of ManxvlIle-on-the-Gloom The famous Mr. Calne Should such a title fair assums As "England's Laura Jane": If Henry James might see himself, From Sandwich to Ben Nevis, Dubbed on the literary shelf , -The Piccadilly Davis." If Alfred Austen. Muses' own. The laurel green nhould gra Because to all men he was know As "Fleet Street's Father Tabb" And (best of all) if F. Burnand, Dean of the Wits of Tooley. Could really earn that title grand "The Seven-Dials Dooley." My Best Kentoky Reel. ("To my friend, Hon. Grover Cleveland, 1 Jeoueath my best Kentucky reel." Will of oieph Jefferson, codicil, dated 'October 21 1804 James Bockham. In Harper's Weekly. Dear friend. I nevermore shall hear Tour shout above the rushing stream. Nor see' your struggling captive leap Where rainbows o'er the rapids gleam. But. ah, for sake of old lajig eyne. For saks of friendship lang and leal Take, with a comrade's lasting love. My best Kentucky reel. How oft your ardent eyes have said, "Ah me. how beautltul and rare. With music In Its silken click. Ann? graven with such loving care!" you never said, "I'd like it. Joe; I envy you from head to heel"; But, Grover. well I knew you craved My best Kentucky reel! And now it's yours, fond friend and best. Your undisuuted own for aye. To ping to you beside the stream Through many a bloom-white April fiay- To sing, I fain would think, of me. When soft thoughts o'er your spirit steal. And you can hear me prating of My best Kentucky reel. I pray you treat It well, old chum. And keep it oiled and polished bright. And never lay it damp away. Though you come weary home at nigh I've held in trust. I give in trust, A very masterpiece of steel. So cherish lovingly. d-ar friend. My best Kentucky reel. Godspeed you, fellow-fiherman. Beside the. roaring brook, And many a crimson-spotted trout Send surging up to try your hook. Oh I would that I could still stand by. Or with the net In triumph kneel. While o'er the brawling turmoil sings My best Kentucky reel I But I have said my last farewell To all the streams I used to know. Content. If you will sometimes stop And think awhile of angler Joe. Lie on some bank we used to love. And let old memories o'er you steal. Meanwhile a tear that shall not rust. Dries on my beat Kentucky reell
