James E. Homans, editor

“ His name has always been associated with that magnificent public acquisition, and there is never any question that it was his skillful and sincere word-painting of the natural beauties of the Yosemite that caused Congress to pass the measure which gives America the most stupendous pleasure ground in the world — a park absolutely unique in its primitive grandeur and diversified scenery. Long before the Yosemite was taken in charge by the government and held to be a people's park, John Muir knew perfectly its mountains, valleys, canyons, waterfalls, and wild denizens. ”

“ After considerable deliberation and almost deciding to go to the backwoods of Upper Canada, the father took the little family to Wisconsin, taking up a farm claim in the heart of the wilderness near Fox River. The last hundred miles from Wisconsin was made by wagon over the trackless prairie, just after the spring thaw, and John Muir never forgot how they stuck in the mud again and again, and how doubtful it seemed many times whether they ever would reach their destination. ”

“ John Muir's love for the Yosemite was little short of devotion, and he was the first to proclaim to the world the beauties of that glorious region. He wrote a series of magazine articles on “The Treasures of the Yosemite” in August and September, 1890, and it was largely through the interest awakened by those papers that the Sequoia and Yosemite national parks were established by the United States government. In the cause of forest preservation he was a vigorous and life-long worker, and his slogan, “Save the trees!” ”