The San Francisco call., 1909-02-21

ter o. q splendid dream come true
for All its deV0tees, and another
Wondrous shrine for ths worsra
nature pilgrims
Who hss not watched tia sublime
beauty OF the valley ana its heights In
the searching sunshine. without wish
ing that he could see It when the shad-
eve were desn when the ground was
white aid the falls were ali but fro-
Esn9 Who. when he took that '7Ast
leok- az ths valley IN the summer or
autumn. did not envy the guardian and
the few care takers who called the
valley home and the mail carrier, who,
sVeyT now and again. went by horse
eF snowshoes and brought word frem
ths sgtsr werldT
Now the valley is open All ths year
around and It is possible for any one
- see this wonderland when winter
has put t TO rest under fluffy, white
oeverlid4. Now the Oldest man and tia
yoznRsEt child can go into the valley
with oonfort and safety. And all this
because OF the enterprise on the part ok
transportation and hotel people. and be-
oaBEs OF the courtesy OF the national
government. which each year seems TO
show more consideration FOR the COM
forts. the well being and the happiness
OF the people. IN leaving Yosemite val
ley open IN winter the government has
added another wonder TO the world.
Be as enthusiastic as you viii about
IN -l-a
the trip win still be one delightful sur
prise after another. From the floor of
the valley TO the highest peak there is
naught but beauty in snow and ice, in
tree and rock. Yosemite In winter, as
IN summer fairly dehes the one who
would paint II or photograph it, or the
one who would try to tell its story.
The clouds come and go, the mists veil
and unven the heights, and every fall
OF snow hnds opportunity to make new
tracery on the cliffs and new ways to
decorate the pines, the FRS and the
ce6ars.
Tor the tourist winter has given an
other ~Oh. ny" point to Yosemite
This tine It is on the floor of the val
ley not on the heights. It Is where
the stage turns sharply from the EI
Portal wagon road, a short distance be-
low the gateway OF the valley" On
one side Is the snow trimmed Sentinel.
rock guarding Bridal ven falls. and
on the other FL Captain. triumphant,
sublfrne and defiant Its sheer walls,
almost a mile high, give no lodgment
10 snow, but, as II proudly wearing a
crown. a deep cover or snow marks fits
head against the sky. Down the valley
the Enow covered meadows bring the
pines and the oedars INTO brilliant re-
lief. and afar ana above are the white
spires and domes and peaks. Clouds
Rest marking the last beautiful line.
It was nay good fortune to travel
with small party Of very much alivs
people who were not afraid to voice
their delight in ringing appreciation,
and 50 the driver Of the stage. who is
kindly and good guide. did not have
10 administer q rebuke by telling OF the
traditional woman who, upon arriving
at the famous Inspiration point on the
old road. took one look at the valley,
and then. turning to her companion,
said: I think those curtains at the
hotel were real lace; or the man who,
riveting his eyes on Bridal Veil falls.
commenced 10 estimate its potential
power for making electricity
With the driver we enjoyed the pic
lures" on FL Captain There, as at
many other points en- route to the val
ley. he has gallery. Surely they
would be dull eyes that could not see
them, he presents them with so much
pride and pleasure Through many
years he has been reading the rocks
and learning the valleys beauty secrets
and he IS eager for the tourists appre-
citation Of his wonderland as a foolishly
fond mother could ever be of apprecia-
ton for her child This driver. and in
truth ali the guides. have an interest
in the valley that even Uncle Sam could
not buy.
The first enthusiastic outburst at the
gate Of the valley is only the beginning
OF a long. series Of thrilling expert
ences. It was more than an hour be-
fore noon when we commenced the