UNDER THE REDWOODS 



am assured. But then, I have never seen them ; 

 and, even if I had, still, three hundred feet is a 

 pretty figure. If it is n't high, — and of course it 

 is n't, absolutely speaking, — it looks high, and 

 that, after all, is the main consideration. A tree 

 that lifts its head so far heavenward — well, if 

 you ask me, I think I could sooner worship it 

 than any picture or graven image. If a man can 

 stand under it, and not feel himself diminished, 

 there must be something seriously wrong in his 

 make-up. 



It was surprising how dark and sunless the 

 place was, even under a cloudless sky. One of 

 the keepers said to me, " Oh, yes, it is all very 

 well to spend an hour here, or even a day ; but to 

 live here, I tell you, it is pretty depressing." It 

 was less so in summer, when the sun passed al- 

 most overhead, and could strike down between 

 the trees. 



I inquired about bird-life and bird-singing. 

 There was very little of either, he answered; and 

 I imagine he was right. The shadows are too 

 dense ; every tree interposing such an enormous 

 depth of leafy cover, so many " layers of shade," 

 between the sun and the ground. In summer, he 

 added, the " jay birds " made a good deal of chat- 

 tering. There were two kinds of them, he told 

 me ; and I knew as much already : a dark-blue 

 141 



