Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1916-06-24
A GREAT AMERICAN
BIOLOGIST

States coast geodetic survey, during
which the director of the closely re
lated geological survey delivered ar
address, no reference, as far | have
| been able to discover, was made to
Clarence King, the first director and
organizer of the geological survey, al
though other ''ilustrious names" were
mentioned.
| do not wish to think that the
reason was because Mr.. King was a
"popularizer" of science. Probably
he himself would have rejected that
title, for his daily work was distinct
| ly scientific Yet he possessed, what
so many technical workers in science
lack altogether, not only an apprecia-
ton of the public's point of view, but
a deep sympathy with it and desire
to spread the general results of
scientific labors before the world in
a comprehensive and inspiring form
kaaculated to increast The popular
love and understanding of nature.
He wrote book which unique in
| American literature, which it is per-
| He wrote a book, unique in
telligent reader as a source of rare
| delight and stimulation, and which
the directors of the boy scouts organl
cation ought to have on their recon-
mended list 1t is called "Moutain
cering in the Sierra Nevadas" and was
for a long time out of print, but has
been reissued within few years past
Now, when circumstances have
turned the attention of Americans
back to their own country, and when
facts have suddenly become greater
than fictions, such a book as this
should have redolb ed popularity.
Never, by anybody, have the wond
ers of the great California mountains
and the strange fascination OF that
deep, emerald bottomed, rock-sided
cleft in the earth called the Yosemite
VALLEY been so wildly pictured as in
Clarence Kings descriptions.
They are literary art transferred and
energized by scientific knowledge. il
is many years ago since | first reat
his electrifying account OF the Ascent
of Mt. Tyndall,' but it thrills in the
recollection, and its description OF
perils and difficulties overcome, of
strange chances taken, of comradely
devotion and sacrifice in the face OF
impending death, is a medicine for
the soul
Only Edward Whymper's story oil
the first ascent OF the Matterhorn can
be compared with it in the literature
If mountaineering That story sent me
up the Matterhorn-after its ascent
had become easy. But nobody has
ever dared, believe, to follow Kings
way up the California peak, because
that could never be made easy.
AS a specimen OF the art OF writ
ing, let me append a few sentences
from the chapter entitled "A Sierra
Storm" The description of the
storm itself is wonderful In the
midest of the binding, wind-driven
snow the adventures stumbled upon
the brink OF the Yosemite. The
great valley beneath them was filled
with tumultuous clouds and the roar
of the tempest
Suddenly there came lull in the
storm; its binding fury OF snow and
wind ceased. Overhead, still hurry
ing eastward, the white bank drove
on, unveilng as it fled the Yosemite
walls, plateau and every object east
ward as far as Mount Clark.
''As yet the valley bottom was OBJ.
scured by layer of mist and cloud
which rose to height OF about 1000
feet, submerging cliff-foot and debris
pile. Between these strata, the cloud
above the cloud below, every object
was in clear, distinct view. the sharp.
terrible fronts of precipices, capped
with fresh cover of white, plunged
down into the still, gray river of cloud
below, their stony surfaces clouded
with purple salmon color and band.
ings OF brown-all hues unnoticeable
in everyday lights.
For half an hour nature seemed in
entire repose absolute quiet reigned
until load roar proceeding from f.
Captain turned our eyes in that direc.
ton. From the round, dome-like can
OF its summit there moved down
an avalanche, gathering volume and
swiftness as it rushed to the brink
and then, leapng out 200 or 800 feet
into space, fell, slowly filtering down
through the lighted air, like silver
cloud, until, within 1000 feet of the
earth, it floated into the shadow Of