The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-10-07

FL Portal Cal Oct. I'm the will
derncss Of the western slope OF the
Slerras away from the crowds and the
necessity of speech-maRinC. President
Taft is travelling by stage coach today
toward the wonderful Mariposa grove
OF big trees. The way to the grove.
where the sequoia giants rise 10 a
height of more than 800 feet. leads
through forests OF trees that are small
in comparison with their imposing
neighbors, but which il set in a moro
populous region would be considered
as wonders in their own right
Altogether the President has eight
hours of stage riding ahead OF him be-
fore he reaches Wawaona. where he
Will spend the night at the lonely tay
cru on the outskirts of the Yosemite
valley. before starting Friday morning
TO penetrate the Mariposa grove.
The President and his party, consist
ing Of a score of persons all told. left
this little terminal station of the Yosc-
mite Valley rairoad at a. m. The
coaches will travel steadily until 1870
o'clock. when q stop VIII he made at
the little settlement of Chinquapln.
Luncheon Will be served in the forest
al Chinquapin and after the party has
rested for time the journey toward
Wawaona will be resumed the schedule
time of arrival there being between 1
and s o'clock After supper has been
served. Mr. Taft Will retire early.
The respite from the great crowds
which have marked his progress
through the west, the period Of rest
in a bracing mountainous atmosphere
amid scenic environment which Is
declared to he one Of the most beauti-
ful in all the world the enjoyment
OF a simple diet of mountain trout and
chicken and bacon and eggs. is eX-
pected to AT the President for the re-
maindcr of his trip He has three
days of sightseeing and rcstful travel
ing before him in and around the
Yosemite and there is not a speech OF
any sort in sight until Fresno. Cal, Is
reached next Sunday afternoon
Despite the many suggestions that
have been offered from the White
House at Washington and which have
been telegraphed ahead by members
of the presidential party. the hospit-
able cities of the west continue to
vie with each other In the matter Of
preparing the most elaborate bills Of
fare for the presidential banquets that
the noted cooks of the country can
devise
Mr. Taft has almost given up the
idea OF getting simple food at any pub
lie function. but he takes the sltua-
tion philosophically and realizes that
IL Is the result Of friendly rivalry be-
tween the cities to do their utmost to
show their appreciation Of his pres
cucc and 10 outshine in the character
of their entertainments and their ban
ouets the best efforts of their neigh
bors.
President Taft, after spending the
night at Wawaoua and visiting the big
trees, tomorrow forenoon Will pro-
coed into the valley. going in from
the Wawaona side. The President
probably will spend Friday night at
Glacier Point or at Sentinel hotel. He
Will return to FL Portal, Saturday. to
spend the night and early on Sunday
morning viii resume his journey to-
ward Los Angeles, arriving there
Monday morning.
The big sequoia trees which the
President Will see tomorrow are known
TO all the world from the photographs
that have been taken OF them and
through the eyes of tourists. All OF
the more imposing trees are known
by name.
The most famous probably is the
Grizzly Giant. which measures moro
than 100 feet in circumference at its
base.
The Fallen Monarch, which lies
prone in the forest and upon which n
stage coach and team OF six horses
can be driven, is another. But prob
ably the most interesting is Wawaona.
q living monster OF the woodland
world, said 10 he 5000 to 5000 years
old, through which driveway ten feet
high has been cut In order that the
stage coach may pass beneath.
It has been said of these big trees
that IL is moi wholly tp he regretted
that they stand apart from the crowd
in a dignity OF their own and that IL
they could be seen every day. one
would no longer care TO see them.
They belong in the Wilderness, where
/ they must be sought out. Nowhere
else In the world. save on the west
ern slope OF the Sierras. are the giant
sequoias TO be found
: John Muir. the noted naturalist and
Yosemite authority. accompanied the
President today II was Mr. Muir who
said.
They do not remind you OF other
trees. They have a peculiar physloG-
, nomy Always beheld with wonder
ing admiration. the big tree seems un-
1 familiar, standing alone. unrelated,
keeping you at a distance. taking no
notice of you. speaking only TO the
winds. thinking only of the sky
During his stay in the Mariposa
grove and in Yosemite National park,
the President will not be entirely cut
off from communication with the out
side world a telephone wire equipped
/ with telegraphlc instruments pene-
trates into the farthest corners. An
escort Of a troop of United States cav
airy had been planned for the Presl-
! dent. but he respectfully requested
| that this arrangement be cancelled