New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-13
JOHN MUIR, NATURALIST.
A LITrI.E-KNOwN SCIENTIST WHO HAS ACCOM-
PLIsHED MUCH AND WAS HoNoRED BY
HARVARD THE OTHER DAY.

Boston. July II (SpeciaD.-When the list OF Har-
ward honorary degrees was announced this year
there was the usual interest in looking over the
names ard in picking out the professions and
careers Of those who received these distinctions.
Everybody knew who General Nelson a. Miles.
Thomas Bailey Aldr!ch Booker 7. Washington.
Professor Farlow and most OF the others were. but
when the name of John Muir was read most read
ers were in the dark about the man. II was So too.
In the theatre during the commencement exercises
People did not generally know who this man IS
who received honorary Master OF Arts. but his
life has been remarkable in many respects. II 1t has
not been public.
John Muir is a naturalist. born and bred in Scot
land whose youth and early manhood were spent
in the West and a who had a wild ten years
service in the Sierras. He was a friend OF Emerson,
of Agasslz OF Cray. Of Sir Joseph Hooker. OF the
Lecontes and Of Professor Runkle. He received IN
A. B. from the University Of Wisconsin. and has
given his life TO scence-given It through love- too.
away from the glare Of publicity. away from the
companionshp of learned men and away from tho
great centres of educational activity.
This man. who for 50 long lived practically alone.
located almost seventy glaciers among the Sierra
peaks where the leading biologists supposed there
were none. He roved among desolate canyons and
had his bed in desolats valleys. Twenty years ago
he was in Alaska. and discovered Glacier Bay and
the immense glacier which bears his name. A con-
tributor to 1.-THE Century" once wrote of him:
1.-The ma me Of John Muir Is nseparably connected
with the Yosemite Valley and the alpine regions OF
the Sierra Nevada, and with the glaciers Of Alaska
the greatest of which bears his name When Ralph
Waldo Emerson visited the Yosemite Muir was his
guide for a week, AMI on his return Emerson said
OF him: He Is more wonderful than Thoreau. or
Emerson, Muir wrote He Is the Sequoia OF the
human race When Agassz and Joseph Leconte
met in San Francisco and were talking about the
glaciers of the Pacific Coast Professor Leconte re-
marked that John Muir knew more about the sub
,ect than any other man.. Yes said AgassZ. bring
ing his hand down on the table by way of emphasis.
he knows all about IT..
A slight schooling, a botanical trip around the
Great Lakes and short business experience In
Canadian and Indiana factories were preliminary
to his explorations. which were begun under odd
circumstances.
He working in a carriage factory with hopes
of being made its foreman, when one Of his eyes
was injured by file point. There were long weeks
In dark room and prospects Of ultimate blindness.
Throwing down all his chances Of becoming fore
man or partner in the carriage factory he decided
to get the wilderness and get all the beautiful
out Of Nature which he could before blindness
Came ,, 49,
through a half-dozen Southern States. then from
the eq 10 tS Of faec S and way ap
visited the Yosemite Valley. studying Its botanical
to sens hm for some me b. building
mill for Mr.. Hutchings. the Yosemite pioneer Then
ire msd all the Sers to their Source
He camped wherever the night overlook him. never
hurrying never taking note Of time One story OF
his life says he would sit motionless for whole day
studying the habits Of squirrel or bird or grass
hopper and that during ten years OF exploration
in he high Sierra with the single exception OF a
band of Mono Indians. he never met human
being" , IL, l., .
Yosemite ne found ne had his bed In the rafters "a
get fresh air and the music of the waters over the
| Stream in a gable he had study and a workshop
There were sketches Of trees river beds. foliage
glaciers and the thousand and one features which
Struck the botanist and geologist in his travels
! lie was at times annoyed by the trouble In carry.
ing his food. and once said he wished nc could ca
! tumn 20 he could go on with his explorations unn.
| terruptcd At sixty Mr. Muir Is still strong and
good mountain climber. Seventeen years ago ht
married a fruit-growers daughter in Costa Rca
and has his own vines and hg trees to attend to now
He has written little though his Mount Shasta
| condenses a great deal OF poetical beauty into 9
scientific treatment OF nature