Editorials 



323 



This is no time to take advantage of a nation's stress and urge the 

 granting of an unnecessary destructive privilege which will injure her 

 at home as well as abroad. After the war is over the need of national 

 parks will be greater than ever to help heal the wounds and allay the 

 suffering of the war. Our parks should then be at their best and should 

 not needlessly show the blasting effects of modern warfare. Every 

 loyal American should be willing to sacrifice anything and everything 

 vitally essential to victory, but we should not blindly sacrifice priceless 

 possessions to our everlasting regret until the need for such sacrifice be- 

 comes compelling. The national parks are only a small fractional area 

 of the public domain. 



The French, who have superbly suffered the heaviest burdens in this 

 war, are keeping the gardens of Paris blooming in all their peace-time 

 glory in order to cheer the wounded and downhearted and make them 

 forget for the moment their misery. Why does not France spend this 

 labor in making shells or raising wool? Why not auction off the price- 

 less art treasures of the Louvre if money and material gain is the only 

 consideration in this war? No, the world is not coming to an end and 

 there is a brighter day to look forward to, be it near or be it remote. 

 And when that day arrives, let us not still be confronted with the ter- 

 rible ravages of war by the sight of needless destruction of our wild 

 playgrounds at home. W. E. C. 



To Our Club There is a natural tendency in these days to relinquish 

 Members the privileges of club membership for financial reasons. 



The cost of living has risen and taxes of all kinds are 

 greatly increased. Consequently the loyalty of all who belong to public- 

 spirited organizations is undergoing a test. Many bear testimony that 

 the Sierra Club makes a better return for value received than any other 

 club of the kind. But we ardently hope to build up a membership that 

 will not rate the question of individual benefit above the honor of shar- 

 ing in the valuable public service which the Sierra Club is constantly 

 rendering. Had it not been for the watchful protection which the club 

 has exercised over the national parks and monuments of California, in 

 particular, both present and future generations would long ago have 

 been robbed of treasures of scenery that are now, and, we hope, will 

 ever remain the pride and the inspiration of the West. In order to in- 

 vade the national parks, wool and mutton men are sure to dress up their 

 hope of private gain in the form of a public necessity. We need the 

 support of all our members in any impending fight for the protection of 

 our country's heritage of natural beauty. Let there be no slackers in 

 our ranks ! Maintain your membership ! W. F. B. 



