SIERRA CLUB BULLETIN 



By John Muir 



.!A(P T£: In his intimate acquaintance with nature John Muir recognized and 

 loved everything that was natural and honest, but his interest focused upon 

 the things which represented the most splendid expressions of creative power. 

 Not only did he instinctively select for close personal companionship the 

 elements of nature that had most to give for him, but, as no other western 

 naturalist has done, he set forth their fullest meaning in the language of 

 the people. 



Of all Muir^s special interests in nature, it is probable that none made 

 to him a stronger appeal than the giant Sequoias of the Sierra and Coast 

 Range forests. It was his firm conviction that they represented the supremest 

 examples of majesty among all living things, and his journey around the 

 earth to compare the Big Trees with the trees of the world left him with 

 settled conviction regarding the correctness of this view. For ma?iy years 

 he gave himself to the protection of these Kings of the forest, the noblest 

 of a noble race.^^ At this time of national movement for the preservation of 

 these forests through the Save-t he- Redwoods League, it is particularly fitting 

 that Jve present the sentiments written years ago, in support of just such a 

 move?nent, by the friend who fought so hard, so faithfully, and so long in this 



good cause. — John Campbell MerRIAM, Chairman, Executive Committee of the 

 Save-t he-Redivoods League. 



WE are often told that the world is going from bad to 

 worse, sacrificing everything to mammon. But this right- 

 eous uprising in defense of God's trees in the midst of exciting 

 politics and wars is telling a different story, and every Sequoia, 



* Found among Muir's papers after his death and now published for the first time. 

 See editorial, page 87. — Editors. 



