The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-08

Wawona. Cal, Oct. After a thir-
ty-five-mile stage ride over wind
ing mountain roads. the President
finds himself quartered tonight In a
comfortable little cottage here in the
heart Of the Yosemite Valley.
II has been a most interesting and
restful day Tor the President. The
mere fact that he has been able to SIT
down to three plain meals without be-
ing called on for a single speech has
in itself been a great treat.
L never felt better in my life" said
the President as he climbed from the
stage and shook the thirty-fve-miIe
coating Of dust from his coat.
Enthusiastic Over Park.
Il was the Presidents first VISIT 70
this wonderful country. and he was
enthusiastic over its charms. Besides
the President on the stage seat for the
entire ride was John Muir the nat
uralist. who has spent more than ten
years Of his life in the Yosemite.
MT Taft could not have seen the
park under better tutelage. The aged
naturalist is familiar with every root
OF The valley and the surrounding
mountains. and he was busy all dav
pointing out the picturesque views
and the curious freaks that naure has
wrought in the towering granite walls
OF the valley
Tho Bridal Veil falls with its 900 feet
o. silvery mist; FL Captain. the great
granite ledge lifting its head $500 feet
above the valley; the Three Craces the
HaH Dome; Inspiration Point and Look
out Point were some OF the places OF
interest visited by the President TODAY
Air- Taft was particularly Interested I'm
Mr. muir's description Of the formation
o, the wonderful valley by glacial de-
nudation.
That mighty clln yonder.r said the
naturalist. pointing at the Half Dome
lost July one mile OF it's height bv
Giac'al denudation In he thousands OF
Years since that period the rain and
frost have been unable 20 cut II down by
more than one-eighth OF an inch."
Capt. Archibald Butt. the Presidents
military aid. had a theory OF his own
a0out the geological formation OF the
valley
We'll. said the President after lis
tenlne to Mr.. Muirs glacial theory. u
feel constrained TO accept that explana-
ticn over Capt. Butts. much as it grleves
me"
Started at Dnybreak.
The President and his party started out
from EI PortaIa az o'clock In the
morning. The President had a fine nights
rest and was up at daybreak With Mr.
Taft in his stage. besides Mr. Muir. were
Gov. Gillett. OF California; Senator Flint.
Representative Duncan McKinlay. and
Capt Butt. Two or three other Califor-
MIA Representatives in Congress followed
In a second stage. and the remainder OF
the Taft party brought up the rear in
another vehicle
Henry Hedges. the driver OF The Presi-
dents rig, is the man who drove the FIRST
stage through the valley. Recent rains
had settled the dust and the President
made the trip under ideal conditions. In
the thirty-fve miles there were three
relays OF horses.
One Of the most enjoyable events OF the
day for the President was a picnic
luncheon served in the ChinOuapiu forest
Umpired Unique Game.
AFTER the luncheon the President did
his only work Of the day. lie umpired
game Of duck on the rock. as PLAYED
10y newspaper correspondents and other
members OF the psrty.
The President was rigged out in his
golf clothes for the trip. When his stage
began to climb from the valley up the
mountains. the President got out and
walked. He was at an altitude Of about
5000 feet, but It did not seem TO bother
him. He plodded through the dust for
a mile or more. until the stage driver
warned him that he would be late IN
making Wawona.
In the little crowd that greeted the
President at Big Tree Junction was Ca
len Clark, the ninety-seven-year-o pio-
neer. who discovered the wonderful trees
OF the, Mariposa grove The President
will start out at o'clock tomorrow 70
view these famous trees, and the old
pioneer will be his guide
The President will spend to-morrow
night on Glacier Point.