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Sierra Club Bulletin. 



The White House, Washington. 



My dear Mr. Kent: I thank you most heartily for this singu- 

 larly generous and public-spirited action on your part. All 

 Americans who prize the natural beauties of the country and 

 wish to see them preserved undamaged, 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 three hundred acres, and 

 I should greatly like to name the monument the Kent Monument 

 if you will permit it. 



Sincerely yours, 



Theodore Roosevelt. 



To the President, Washington. 



My dear Mr. Roosevelt: I thank you from the bottom of my 

 heart for your message of appreciation, and hope and beHeve 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 of 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 some- 

 thing 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, have taught 

 with more vigor and effect than any 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 



