THE MENTOR 1916.10.02, No. 116, The Yosemite Valley LEARN ONE THING EVERY DAY OCTOBER 2 1916 SERIAL NO. 116 THE MENTOR THE YOSEMITE VALLEY By DWIGHT L. ELMENDORF Lecturer and Traveler DEPARTMENT OF VOLUME 4 TRAVEL NUMBER 16 FIFTEEN CENTS A COPY The Incomparable Yosemite No temple made with hands can compare with the Yosemite. Every rock in its walls seems to glow with life. Some lean back in majestic repose; others, absolutely sheer or nearly so for thousands of feet, advance beyond their companions in thoughtful attitudes, giving welcome to storms and calms alike, seemingly aware, yet heedless, of everything going on about them. * * * * * Awful in stern, immovable majesty, how softly these rocks are adorned, and how fine and reassuring the company they keep: their feet among beautiful groves and meadows, their brows in the sky, a thousand flowers leaning confidingly against their feet, bathed in floods of water, floods of light, while the snow and waterfalls, the winds and avalanches and clouds shine and sing and wreathe about them as the years go by, and myriads of small winged creatures--birds, bees, butterflies--give glad animation and help to make all the air into music. * * * * * Down through the middle of the Valley flows the crystal Merced, River of Mercy, reflecting lilies and trees and the onlooking rocks; things frail and fleeting and types of endurance meeting here and blending in countless forms, as if into this one mountain mansion Nature had gathered her choicest treasures to draw her lovers into close and confiding communion with her. JOHN MUIR. [Illustration: FROM A WATER COLOR PAINTING CATHEDRAL SPIRES, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK] _THE YOSEMITE VALLEY_ _The Story of the Valley_ ONE It was once said that “a man has to be an awful liar to tell the truth about California”; and this applies especially to the wonderful Yosemite (yo-sem´-it-ee) Valley. The name Yosemite means “full grown grizzly bear.” The Valley lies on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada range, and is washed by the Merced River. There is no record of the early Spanish settlers of California ever having known the Yosemite. It was always a stronghold for the mountain tribes of Indians, and descendants of the Yosemite Indians still live there.