The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-17
STILL LIVES AMONG HIS
 WONDERLAND.
The Old Pioneer Who Greeted Taft is Now in His Ninety seventh Year and Lives
 in His Beloved < Valley.

Those who are chroniciing President Taft's tour of the West recounted on Friday the visit of the chief executive to the Mariposa Grove of big trees and his meeting with Galen Clark, the ven- erabie discoverer of this majestic growth.
 The name Galen Clark does not bear much interest for the average Eastern reader, yet there are few characters more interesting than the discoverer of the big trees of California. The inter est does not lie merely in his discovery of the big treesS but also in the fact that las life is representative of the true California pioneer | like many others had heard of the almost pa- thetic love of these old men for nature in California, but never before had l seen such an example.
 We were entering the Yosemite Vai- ley when first heard his name spoken. I had read of the discoverer of the big trees in my geography when a small child but now was really to see him. We were riding in stage along the floor of the valley. when the drives refining in his horses and pointing With the butt of his whip ata'little los cab in, said in q loud voice: a
 .4onf the Ieft are ifli6s Yosemite Falls. This cabin in the foreground belongs to Gafen Clark. sdisceverer of big trees. He is now in his niuety-seventh year. Wonder by that tree is Mir. Clark him self" According tos his construction this last point was the least important to him. But there really sat the won derfui man of my geography days, reading his paper through a magnify- ing glass. Our driver told us iii an undertone that MT. Clark hated to be regarded as a curiosity, so with one small side glance we drove on.
 The whole outlook interested us. Here was a real California pioneer, not in everyday surroundings, but living in a wouderland-surroun on all sides with the most beautiful of Gods creations. We determined to cultivate his friendship that 1t might lead 10 ms speaking of himself and incidentally, or his life with nature. Then. too. we might leagn from him the truth Of the discovery Of the big trees.
 It took us but few days to Know that we had found a true lover of na- ttire. In Q week, we were sitting un- der his pine conversing freely I don't know how he came to speak of himseiI and his discovery of the big trees. believe 1t was because he feit a iit.le sorry for us when we told him Of the many versions we had heard of his discovery Just before guide had toid us. without so much as batting an eye- lash. that years and years ago. when fine largest tree of the group fell, MT. Clark was many miles off, but had heard 1t. He traced the echo for days and days, until he came to the grove of big trees. MT. Clark can appreciate a joke, and especially on tourist: was then that he began to speak or his own life and the discovery of the trees.
 II was born in Dublin, N. H. in the shadow of Monadnock Lake. fn 1872. The family was poor and there were many of us. so my father let us out, as was the custom In those days, to fam flies who had no boys. We worked TOT our board and little extra. which was paid to the father l was loaned all my young life. and had but little schooling. In lS41 l moved 10 Missouri and there married.
 a.Then came occasional rumors of gold from California. I planned to leave for the new country in the rusn or 49, but my wife died, leaving me with the care of our five small children. put them in homes ana in 54 came 10 Cal- ifornia.
 This country then was wild and un- inhabited save for few mining settle ments here and there. will not go into detail of the years spent in useless toil--no wealth came. so I began to survey in the heart of the Sierras.
 My lungs had been troubling me. and I had been surveying but short time when I broke down completely. No one expected me to live. but deter mined to make a fight for my life. Leaving my companions went Into inc higher Sierras, carrying my provis- ions on burro In 1857 built log cabin and settled on the south fork of the Merced River. Although I did not know it, I was then among the big trees. When on hunting trip in the following May I discovered the trees. With the first sight of them I was awed. Before I realized. l stood be-