64 



Sierra Club Bulletin. 



of the Outing Party of 1908, in expressing their own deep sor- 

 row, in extending to those most near to her their S3Tiipathy, 

 wish to express also their reverence for the high nobiHty of her 

 character, which dared even to audacity, which invoked even 

 danger in the young ardor of her joy of life. 



Resolved, That this expression of sorrow and sjTnpathy be 

 pubHshed in, the next issue of the Sierra Club Bulletin and 

 that a copy thereof be sent to the family of the deceased. 



The Value of Natural Scenery. 



[Address delivered at the White House Conference on the Con- 

 servation of Natural Resources, May 14, 1908, by J. Horace 

 McFarland, President American Civic Association.] 



[This is reprinted because of its excellent presentation of a subject for 

 which the Sierra Club stands pre-eminently. — Editor.] 



Mr. Chairman: I urge this august and influential assembly 

 to consider the essential value of one of America's greatest 

 resources — her unmatched natural scenery. 



It is well that we should here take full account of the peril of our 

 national prosperity, indeed to our very national existence, which 

 lies in further wasteful disregard of our waning resources of 

 forest and mine, of water and soil. By the possibilities of con- 

 servation here discussed, the mind is quickened, the imagination 

 fired. But the glory of the United States must rest and has 

 rested upon a firmer foundation than that of her purely material 

 resources. It is the love of country that has lighted and that 

 keeps glowing the holy fire of patriotism. And this love is 

 excited, primarily, by the beauty of the country. Truly inspired 

 is our national hymn as it sings — 



" My native country, thee, 

 Land of the noble, free, 



Thy name I love; 

 I love thy rocks and rills. 

 Thy woods and templed hills: 

 My heart with rapture thrills 

 Like that above." 



Paraphrasing a recent utterance of Mayor McClellan upon 

 city beauty, I insist that 



"The country healthy, the country wealthy, and the country wise 

 may excite satisfaction, complaisance, and pride, but it is the 

 country beautiful that compels and retains the love of its citizens." 



We cannot destroy the scenery of our broad land, but we can 

 utterly change its beneficial relation to our lives, and remove 

 its stirring effect upon our love of country. We can continue 

 to convert the fairest land the sun shines upon into a desert 

 of ugliness. Indeed, we are abundantly able to outdo the Sahara 



