John Muir Essay, Research Paper
John Muir
Biography Report
by Ginger Wadsworth
The story takes place at Yosemite National Park from 1838-1914. John Muir
was a botanist, geologist, and writer. He had overcome earthquakes, glaciers,
and he climbs mountains. John Muir had impressed by overcoming all the
dangers like animals. He was an expert on wilderness. He knows survival
skills to stay alive. He studies nature and he writes about nature. He made a
national park system as well as the Sierra Club. He knew that the Native
Americans called the place “Pohono,” or spirit of the puffing wind. At first he
called it a “dainty little fall…only about fifteen or twenty feet high.” John
laughed after discovering that Bridalveil Fall drops 620 feet. He writes all
kinds of quotes about nature, for example: “I am captive, I am bound. Love of
pure unblemished Nature seems to overmaster and blur out of sight all other
objects and considerations.” John works in his “scribble den.” J
brothers and five sisters and their names are: Margaret, Sarah, David, Dan, Mary,
Annie, and Joanna. For several years, he had toyed with writing up his findings
for publication. Jeanne Carr was the one that encouraged him. She even
suggested titles and copied his notes. John decided to send an article to the
New York Tribune. To his surprise, the newspaper published “Yosemite Glaciers”
on December 5, 1871, and paid him $200, that was a lot of money back then. On
New Year?s Day in 1872, the same newspaper printed “Yosemite in Winter.” John
thought that he might be able to earn his living by writing, what he called “pen
work.” He stayed in his cabin for the winter and wrote it. He went through a
couple of earthquakes. He joined his valley neighbors and suggested they smile
a little and clap their hands. He said that Mother Earth is only trotting them
on Earth?s knee to amuse them and make them good! Everyone thought John was a
little crazy when he said that. He also farmed a lot.