New-York tribune., 1908-02-23
JOHN MUIR, N4TUR1LIST.
He Scorns Wealth, but Tolerates
Presidents

II have no time to fool away making money
said the old mountaineer 10 me- Ihe rich HIGH
carries too heavy a pair of blankets
Nothing that I have heard or read ABOUT tle cia~
and clutch of incumbering wealth has renamed
with me so long this homely speech OF the man
who tranps the heights and knows tranqulniIS-
NV mountaineer, who has no time nor any ueSiio
TO NAV the 'sedulous ape to the men who have
made millions climbs the trail with light pack
and light heart. Indeed, in whole fortnlsht 0A
footing it he has often taken along nolhlhs Out
bag of bread. a tin cup and handful or tea ms
exuItant voice his bright eye and the straight
away swing of his legs tell me that there never
was happier man all the world And TINS Is
because he has found his life-because ne Is hot
one of the tethered and mastered men VINO are
content with the sham life of streets and clubs, but
one of the free and unattached beings who kho"
snd feel the lyrical uplift of life in the open.
John Muir is the name of the man whom am so
uncertainty celebrating. He is OF Scottsh an
cestry and began life under the most rigid pterhal
rule being compelled to read the Bible daily ana
memorize whole books of it, which he could repeat
IN fine wonder of Wisconsin villagers. hint as 10
the nature of his father is contained In the 1act
that though he was excessively proud OF the Iaa'
who made the most wonderful clockworK lnFeil-
tions for kndling fires. students revolving desk
and contrfvance for tipping himself out Of bed at
a certain hour I'm the morning, yet the sturdy old
Covenanter thought it a sin TO give him single
word of praise
John Muir worked his way through college. where
.,annned all through the South, and through Cali
fornia where he has lived for many years. TO the
world he is now best known as a naturalist
phvsIoerapher and glacier climber, and his frlends
will tell you that he IS as sweet and rare an oio
man as you shall find this planet
One day he met a grizzly in the big tree country
The bear gazed at him and he gazed at the bear
They stood looking at each other long tlIhe' MUTT
furtively the bear ferociousy, with nothing but
lou-lving log between them; but finally the bear
turned about and walked quietly away. compelled
as 1 believe, by the mastery of the mans keen
eyes
| Muir knows the Alaskan glaciers as New York
men know Broadway. He discovered the largest OF
these glaciers. and 1t is named for him.
His is an intrepid spirit. The only thing he IS
| fearful of is praise or emolument When he re-
| ceived an honorary degree from Harvard ne SAID
looking askance at his sheepsIIin: I'm blessed If
know what to with this thing; 1 would chuck L
| into that crate if my wife would let me-
Because he "a a liberated man and loves his free-
dom wishing always TO be master OF his own unleS
and seasons. it be that he is sometimes rather
hard to handle. His engagements with himself are
| often s,,ch that he does TO have them
| broken in upon. For example. he did not al the
| outset want go with Roosevelt INTO the 10
| semitic To a genius like Muir president Is very
likely TO be merely president. and he has no more
desire 10 meet him than he has to meet PLAIN cit
| izen He was preparing TO excuse himself oy
polite note to Mr.. Roosevelt when a friend said 10
| him:
| the Presidents invitation. 1t is like q command
! from d king TO his subject
This however made appeal 70 the liberty loV-
! ing old lnountaineer- How he finally perSudde"
himself 10 go the Chief Magistrates oiddns was
/ curious enough.
..WeU he argued against his inclination. I sup
| nose I oughtn't to refuse his invitation Just be
! cause he happens be the President
And so he went along in King Theodores train
| annarently as docie a subject any. Atterward
| he remarked that the President pretty good
| tans.
life cares nothing for accumulation, save in valua-
ble experiences and TO despise wealth as he
/ despises danger. once in a Ions talk with h I'll.
! Hartman he frankly told that gentleman that he
| was richer than he was.
| IL know what you mean said Mr. Hartman.
| "but | won't admit it. Don't you think wealth Is
| a good thing for man?
| Not great wealth-no Your rich man renounces
| too much | would rather lie down at night by an
old spring | know in the Sierras than TO own the
| Waldorf Astoria is. II 1 had To live In it
| This story l know. Is hard for the average city
man TO understand. but its genuineness there -
| no doubt. And what would the bejewelled couple
| dining ostentatously in the Broadway restaurant
| make of this instance OF his simplicity
| Once Muir dining with me in a cafe IN san
| Francisco We sat down. and he began to- tell me
| a story. The waiter came around several times
| hut as the story was such good one thought
| Do,,ld wait until il was ended before ! gave the
! ordsr Muir talked and talked. and in between he
| uould reach over and break of piece of bread
from a French loaf on the table. This he cid d