Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1920-02-19
MY FIRST SUMNER
IN THE SIERRA

| Not all of US have the opportunity
to visit the warm countries during the
cold winter months. but seated in a
coy armchair with the help of
little Imagination and an interesting
book of travel we may go anywhere
we wish. If you enjoy this ''fireside
travelling be sure to read My First
Summer in the Sierra by John Muir.
The author was born in Scotland
but at an early age he emigrated to
the Uuited States, settled near Por-
tage and is graduate of our Uni
versity of Wisconsin. His later life
was spent in the west and many of
his books give US detailed but ex-
ceedingly charming and delightful
descriptions of this region, its an
imal and vegetable life.
During this first summer in the
Sierra or "The range of light" as he
prefers to call it, Muir in charge of
a large flock of sheep visited the
country of the Mercedes, Tuolomne
and Yosemite rivers. The natural
list considers the book valuable re-
cord Of California flora and fauna
That it undoubtedly is. But it is
the nature lover rather than the
scientist who has first claim on it
Again and again we see with the au-
thor the wonderful sculptured land
scape, the mountains clothed in soft
green grass and beautiful trees, the
rivers and waterfalls glimmering in
between. We feel the charm of this
Holy of Holes, which speaks to us
of the nearness and love of God and
makes US feel akin to all the wild
things around us. We enjoy the
fragrance of the air, the clouds form
ing an ever-varying landscape above
us, the noon day shower, the flower
which he claims puts the toughest
mountaineer on his good behavior
We. see the birds, squirrels, deer,
big brown cinnamon bear proving
around in a fairyland of ferns, trees
and flowers. We enjoy these, but it
is doubtful if all of US could appre-
ciate the lizards or the beauty of the
soft, sly grace and ease of the snake.
Muir's last excursion is made to
Cathedral Peak. 1t seems fitting
that here in natures temple he
should find the favorite flower for
which he has been searching in vain
all summer, the cassiope, a little
flower with pinkish white bells, ser
wing as natures church bells.
Charming glimpses Of the authors !
personality are seen throughout the
book. He is very human. He suf-
fers from the electric bite of the
ant; all the beauty around him fails
to satisfy him during the bread short
age. He has keen sense of humor
which reveals to us some interesting
things about Billy, the shepherd.
Constant contact with greese drip
pings and earth has made Billy's !
trousers grow thick instead of thin.
Everything sticks to them. So
without knowing it he has become a
naturalist, collecting valuable ma
terial wherever he goes. Billy con-
siders the azalea poison because it
hurts his sheep The Yosemite val
ley is nothing but big hole in the
ground, d. good place to keep
away from Frequent quotations
show Muir's love of poetry. His
childlike simplicity and sincerity are
felt throughout Illustrations from
drawings by the author add to the
attractiveness of the book.
Other books by this author found
at the City Library are: |
Our National Parks, Steep Trails,
Stickeen and Story of My Boyhood
and Youth.