[Illustration: Photograph by A. C. Pillsbury ILLILOUETTE FALLS 370 feet in height] [Illustration: Photograph by A. C. Pillsbury VERNAL FALLS 317 feet in height] [Illustration: Photograph by A. C. Pillsbury NEVADA FALLS 594 feet in height] But a matter of a thousand years or so does not detract from the dignity of these majestic forest Sons of Anak. Their age and size are enough to command our reverence, and no one should visit the Yosemite without going to the groves to pay respect to these ancient monarchs. [Illustration: Photograph by J. T. Boysen THE WAWONA TREE, MARIPOSA GROVE In front of the tree stands Galen Clark, who discovered the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees in 1857] You must visit the Mariposa Grove at least, and I urge you to give it a special day. You can ride over and return to Yosemite in one day, but I would advise you, in case your visit is a brief one, to save the grove for the last day. Ride to Wawona the afternoon before and stay at that restful little spot overnight. Then visit the grove in the morning, and after that go on to Miami Lodge, and down through the mountains, and across the rich San Joaquin Valley to Fresno, where you can end your trip and reach the main railroad lines. But let me not usher you out of the Valley in this manner. Let me rather urge you to remain. A taste of camp life will surely convince you if my words do not. Camp life is one of the most delightful features of the Yosemite. Camp facilities and conveniences have been arranged to suit every person and every purse. You may enter one of the regularly organized camps, or you may obtain a permit and pitch your own tent in a specially selected spot. To those who plan to settle for a time in the Park the camps make a strong appeal. Camp life is a refreshing change from conventional things, and the heart grows younger under it. The peculiar charm of the Yosemite is the “nearness and dearness” of its features, and it is through camp life that we come to feel this charm. It is not long before El Capitan, the Bridal Veil, the Three Brothers, the Three Graces and Half Dome become objects of fond affection, and the whole Valley appears to be a vast playground especially prepared by Nature to delight the hearts of her children. _SUPPLEMENTARY READING_ GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING YOSEMITE PARK _Issued by the U. S. Government_ SKETCH OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK _By F. E. Matthes_ DISCOVERY OF THE YOSEMITE _By H. L. Bunnell_ YOSEMITE TRAILS _By J. S. Chase_ THE YOSEMITE VALLEY _By Galen Clark_ YOSEMITE SOUVENIR AND GUIDE _By D. J. Foley_ OUR NATIONAL PARKS _By John Muir_ THE YOSEMITE _By John Muir_