156 * * * * "OA, Ranger!" 



railroad ties just before they were purchased by Mr. Kent in 1905. Even 

 then they were not safe. Commercial interests sought to declare the valley 

 in which they were located condemned to make a reservoir site, and only the 

 timely proclamation of the Muir Woods National Monument by President 

 Roosevelt saved them. The President, a great conservationist, wished to 

 name the grove Kent Monument. The correspondence between him and 

 Congressman Kent is indicative of the ideals, not only of the donor but of 

 the National Park Service as well. The President wrote : 



"Mv DEAR MR. KENT : I thank you most heartily for this singularly gen 

 erous and public-spirited action on your part. All Americans who prize the 

 natural beauties of the country and wish to see them preserved and un 

 damaged, and especially those who realize the literally unique value of the 

 groves of giant trees, must feel that you have conferred a great and lasting 

 benefit upon the whole country. 



"I have a very great admiration for John Muir; but after all, my dear 

 sir, this is your gift. No other land than that which you give is included in 

 this tract of nearly 300 acres, and I should greatly like to name the monu 

 ment the Kent Monument, if you will permit it. 



"Sincerely yours, 



"THEODORE ROOSEVELT" 

 "To the President, Washington 



"Mv DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I thank you from the bottom of my heart 

 for your message of appreciation and hope and believe that it will strengthen 

 me to go on in an attempt to save more of the precious and vanishing glories 

 of Nature for a people too slow of perception. 



"Your kind suggestion of a change in name is not one that I can accept. 

 So many millions of better people have died forgotten that to stencil one's 

 own name on a benefaction seems to carry with it an implication of mundane 

 immortality as being somewhat purchasable. 



"I have five good, husky boys that I am trying to bring up to a knowledge 

 of democracy and to a realizing sense of the rights of 'the other fellow/ 

 doctrines which you, sir, taught with more vigor and effect than any other 

 man in my time. If these boys cannot keep the name of Kent alive, I am 

 willing it should be forgotten. 



"I have this day sent you by mail a few photographs of Muir Woods, and 

 trust that you will believe, before you see the real thing (which I hope will 

 be soon), that our nation has acquired something worth while. 



"Yours truly, 



"WILLIAM KENT" 



"THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON 



"MY DEAR MR. KENT : By George ! You are right. It is enough to do 

 the deed and not to desire, as you say, to 'stencil one's own name on the bene 

 faction.' 



