The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-08-04
A VISIT TO THE GREAT "YO-
SEMITF.,,

Our preparation for visiting the Great
Yosemite Valley was of the most
pioneer description. The only portion
of our outfit on which we prided our
selves was our stable. The greatest of
luxuries, really good saddle-animal, is
easily obtained in California. Every
body rides there if you wish TO create
a sensation with your horsemanship in
the streets Of San Francisco, you must
ride i'll, not well. All honor to the
Spaniards, Greasers, and Mixed Breeds,
for having planted the noble idea of
horsemanship so firmly in the country
that not even street railroads can up
root and that Americans who never sat
on even so little as an Atlantic States
pony, on going there presently take to
the saddle as if to the manner born"
Pilgrims to the Yosemite 90 by two
or three different routes, but we shipped
ourselves from San Francisco by steamer
TO Stockton. The distance from Stock
ton to Mariposa is about ninety-five
miles a line of stages is running, at
moderate charges, on alternate days;
fenced ranches, and wide, open, rolling
plains diversity the scene as we 60
along.
Here and there you find an isolated
herdsman or small settlement dropped
down in this not unfluitful waste, and
several times you come TO a hybrid town
with a Spanish plaza, and Yankee no
tons sold around it. We went the dis
lance leisurely to Mariposa stopping
here and there to sketch and botanic
besides, we were dragging what they
call in Jersey carry all, a wagon OBJ
tanned second hand in Stockton, in
which we carried our heavier outfit till
we should get our extra pack-beasts at
Mariposa, and to which we had har-
messed, for the first time, an implacable
white mule with an incapable white
horse, to neither of which was the
others society or its own new trade
congenial.
Mariposa being an excellent starting
point to the Yosemite Valley and the
Mariposa grove of mammoth trees, it is
likely to become a place famous in his
tory and the notebooks Of travellers.
TO serve our party (which numbered
eight-five gentlemen and three ladies'
we secured a man and boy. Regard
ing the former, perhaps the more truth
full assertion would be that he secured
us; for, as will shortly appear, though
we bought his services, he sold us in re.
turn He was a meager, wiry fellow,
with sandy hair, serviceable-looking
hands, and no end of selfrecommenda-
tons. As he said he had been team
ster, and knew that soup-meat went
into cold water, we rushed blindly into
an engagement with him, taking him
for better or for worse.
The boy we obtained near Mariposa.
At fifteen years, and in jackets, he was
one of the keenest spectators in fire.
arms ! ever saw could swap horses or
play poker with anybody and, take
him for all in all, in the Eastern States,
at least, | shall never look upon his like
again.
We are soon in the Mariposa grove.
Who can picture, in language or on
canvas, the thrilling and intense sur.
prise when the eye first looks upon this
marvellous scene Long yistas of forest
shades, formed by immense trunks of
trees, stretch far away now arched by
the overhanging branches of the lofty
Taxodiums, then by the dropping
boughs OF the hite.blossomed Dog.
wood while one hears ever the mys-
FERROUS moaning and whispering of the
great pines and frs.
l have not met single person thi.
side the continent who believes the
literal truth which travellers tell about
these marvellous giants. People some
times think they do, but that is only
because they fail to realize the PROPOSE
ton. They have no concrete idea oil
how the asserted proportions look.
We rode through one tree, distance
of a hundred and ifty.three feet. A
group of these trees is appropriately
called "The Graces." One mighty tree
that had fallen by fire had been burned
out, into which we walked for a long
distance, we found to be inhabited a
grizzly had made his nest there. In the