Niagara might be disclosed. It was also currently believed that for hundreds of miles the river disappeared wholly beneath the surface of the earth. Powell launched his flotilla on May 24, and on August 30 landed at the mouth of the Virgin River, more than one thousand miles by the river channel from the place of starting, minus two boats and four men. One of the men had left the expedition by way of an Indian reservation agency before reaching Arizona, and three, after holding out against unprecedented terrors for many weeks, had finally become daunted, choosing to encounter the perils of an unknown desert rather than to brave any longer the frightful menaces of that Stygian torrent. These three, unfortunately making their appearance on the plateau at a time when a recent depredation was colorably chargeable upon them, were killed by Indians, their story of having come thus far down the river in boats being wholly discredited by their captors. Powell's journal of the trip is a fascinating tale, written in a compact and modest style, which, in spite of its reticence, tells an epic story of purest heroism. It definitely established the scene of his exploration as the most wonderful geological and spectacular phenomenon known to mankind, and justified the name which had been bestowed upon it— THE GRAND CANYON-sublimest of gorges; Titan of chasms. From Robert Sterling Yard's "The Book of the National Parks." There is only one Grand Canyon. It lies in northern Arizona, and the Colorado River, one of the greatest of American rivers, flows through its inner gorge. It must not be confused with the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, or with any of the grande cañons which the Spaniards so named because they were big canyons. The Grand Canyon is 217 miles long, 8 to 12 miles wide at the rim, and more than a mile deep. It is the Colossus of canyons, by far the hugest example of stream erosion in the world. Mesa Verde From Robert Sterling Yard's "The Book of the National Parks." The history of the Mesa Verde National Park began with the making of America. All who have travelled in the southwest have seen mesas from the car-window. New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Utah, the region of the pueblos, constitute an elevated plateau largely arid. Many millions of years ago all was submerged in the intercontinental sea; in fact the region was sea many times, for it rose and fell alternately, accumulating thousands of feet of sands and gravels much of which hardened into stone after the slow great uplifting which made it the lofty plateau of to-day. Erosion did its work. For a million years or more the floods of spring have washed down the sands and gravels, and the rivers have carried them into the sea. Thousands of vertical feet have disappeared in this way from the potential altitude of the region. The spring floods are still washing down the sands and gravels, and the canyons, cliffs, and mesas of the desert are disclosed to-day as stages in the eternal levelling. Thus were created the canyons and mesas of the Mesa Verde. Mesa, by the way, is Spanish for table, and verde for green. These, then, are the green tablelands, forest-covered and during the summer grown scantily with grass and richly with flowers. Platt National Park From "Sulphur Springs and National Park." Sulphur, Oklahoma, is the postoffice and corporate name of the cliff-built city at the gates of the Platt National Park, but it is more frequently referred to as Sulphur Springs because of its reputation as a watering place. In official government circles they adhere to the strict title of the reservation, the Platt National Park, a name given out of respect for the late Senator Platt of Connecticut, who was largely responsible for the legislative action making possible the purchase of the park and its segregation. These facts are mentioned to make clear the reasons for the difference in names, which has caused confusion in the minds of some. Mount Rainier National Park From James Wickersham's "Is It 'Mt. Tacoma' or 'Rainier'? What Do History and Tradition Say?" In May, 1792, Vancouver entered the Straits of de Fuca and cast anchor in Discovery Bay, the Porta Quadra of the Spaniards. Leaving his vessels there to repair, he explored what we now call Admiralty Inlet and Puget Sound in small boats. As the little fleet rounded the long sand point and coasted down into Port Townsend Bay, Vancouver records that a "very remarkable high, round mountain, covered with snow, apparently at the southern extremity of the distant range of snowy mountains before noticed, bore S. 45 E." Later on, while in the Canal de Caamano, of the Spaniards, in speaking of the range of mountains now known as the Cascades, he says: "At its northern extremity, Mount Baker bore by compass N. 22 E.; the round, snowy mountain, now forming its southern extremity, and which, after my friend, Rear Admiral Rainier, I distinguished by the name of 'Mount Rainier,' bore N. 42 E."... This is the history of the name of "Mount Rainier." This mountain, which is the prominent feature of the park, gives its name to the park. Conservation of Wild Flowers From Albert A. Hansen's "Our Disappearing Wild Plants," in "Science," February 25, 1921. The destruction of the vast herds of bison on our western plains, the total extinction of the formerly abundant wild pigeon, the extermination of many of the most beautiful of our wild birds, all this is a matter of common knowledge. How many of us, however, realize that the same rapacious spirit of destruction has seriously endangered our wild plant life, until many of our most desirable plants have actually disappeared from wide areas of our country? The earliest Europeans in America found in the New World a flora marvelously rich in its abundance of species and indescribably beautiful in its display of attractive plants. Since the time of the earliest settlers this wonderful flora has suffered a gradual depletion until at present the flora in many regions is a mere relic of the past with hardly a suggestion of its pristine loveliness. The appreciation of mankind was expressed in an odd manner indeed when he removed the handsomest of the plants, allowing the dull and less attractive species to take their place... The causes leading to their disappearance are complex, but by far the greatest contributing factor is the unrestricted, indiscriminate, thoughtless picking to which these beauteous plants are subjected. Each spring witnesses the descent of legions of thoughtless flowergatherers who ravish the flora with hardly a thought that the tearing away of the flowers robs most plants of their only methods of reproduction. These misguided hordes gather huge armfuls and basketfuls of hepatica, anemone, bloodroot and dozens of other rapidly-wilting plants, which are enjoyed for the moment but are soon strewn along the highways and byways in withered, unsightly masses, mute evidence of wanton destruction of nature's most perfect gifts. The process of extermination has of late been largely aided and widely extended by that new enemy of our flora, the automobile, penetrating into regions formerly remote or inaccessible and returning loaded with huge piles of drooping, withered branches of flowering dogwood, redbud, and service berry... Must these wondrous gifts of nature live only in song and story for the countless on-coming generations? Is it fair that we dissipate this great natural heritage, robbing posterity of the pleasures derived from our flowers which we now so fully enjoy? It would seem that the doctrine of the greatest good for the greatest number demands that we accept this rich birthright in guardian spirit, to be safeguarded and preserved for the enjoyment of those who come after us; that each generation act as trustees of the surrounding flora, executing its trust in such a manner that the beauty of our native wild plants may continue in perpetuity... The remedy for the situation is to substitute the present wanton, promiscuous, unguided methods of gathering plants with regulated, sane and rational means. It is not at all necessary to forbid the picking of flowers, but sufficient should always be allowed to remain, particularly in the case of annuals, to produce seed and so perpetuate the species. Plants should never be gathered by the roots, as is so frequently the case with hepatica, anemone and bird-foot violet. Plants growing from long, creeping stems, as arbutus and ground pine (lycopodium) should never be torn out. It is best to cut the flowering stems of arbutus either with a sharp knife or a pair of scissors, allowing the long, leafy stem to continue its work of flower-production. The beauty of shrubs should never be violated by tearing the branches and in so doing peeling the bark to the base, thereby not only disfiguring the plant but also creating ready access for the entrance of fungi and other enemies which cause death. In case it is felt necessary to remove some of the branches of flowering shrubs, it is best to select such members as will mar the beauty least and cut them close to the base with a sharp knife in such a manner that the bark will eventually callous over the wound. Phlox, wintergreen and other scarce wild plants should never be purchased either from florists or street vendors, because by so doing one merely encourages the commercial exploitation of the wild flora... It is especially desirable that plants such as the wintergreen be allowed to mature fruit as food for birds during the harsh winter months. Without this source of food, many birds die of winter starvation. It is desirable that the picking of such weedy but attractive plants as daisies, buttercups, golden rod and asters be encouraged, since by so doing no harm results and the farmer is assisted with his weed problem. In addition, the cultivation of wild plants in our gardens may save many species for the enjoyment of future generations. A few books which will be useful in the identification of the wild flowers of this section of the country are: Flower Guide. By Chester Albert Reed. Guide to the Wild Flowers. By Alice Lounsberry. How to Know the Wild Flowers. By Mrs. William Starr Dana. How to Know Wild Fruits. By Maude Gridley Peterson. Our Early Wild Flowers. By Harriet Louise Keeler. Wild Flowers Every Child Should Know. By Frederic William Stack. Wild Plants Needing Protection. By Elizabeth Gertrude Britton. Books Added to the Library February 1 to March 1, 1921 An r or b prefixed to the call number indicates that the book must be called for and used in the Reference or the Technology Room; j that it is especially suitable for children; and q that it is quarto size or larger. Asch, Schalom. Fiction A812u Uncle Moses; a novel; authorized translation from the Yiddish by Isaac Goldberg. Dutton. The story of a Polish Jew and of his relations to fellow-countrymen whom he has brought to New York to work for him. Buchan, John. The power-house [a novel]. Doran. B848p A mystery, murder, and detective story about a terrible secret organization of the underworld. Dell, Floyd. Moon-calf; a novel. Knopf. D4112m A study of the development of the mind and character of a boy from childhood to manhood, showing the effects of various radical theories in which he becomes successively interested. Dorchain, Auguste, comp. Twelve best short stories in the French language. (Gowans's cosmopolitan library, no.5.) D735t Gowans. Contents: The adventures of the last of the Abencerrages (1806), by Viscount Chateaubriand. The prisoners of the Caucasus (1815), by Count Xavier de Maistre.-El Verdugo (1830), by Honoré de Balzac.-Laurette, or, The red seal (1835), by Count Alfred de Vigny.-The Venus of Ille (1837), by Prosper Mérimée.-The story of a white blackbird (1842), by Alfred de Musset.-Vanina Vanini (1855), by "Stendhal."-The child with the bread shoes (1863), by Théophile Gautier.-The Reverend Father Gaucher's elixir (1869), by Alphonse Daudet.-The legend of Saint Julian Hospitator (1877), by Gustave Flaubert.-The gate-keeper (1883), by François Coppée.-Mademoiselle Perle (1886), by Guy de Maupassant. Farnol, Jeffery. Black Bartlemy's treasure. Little. A tale of pirates and adventure in the 17th century. Guillaumin, Emile. F245bl G96621 Life of a simple man; tr. by Margaret Holden, with a foreword by Edward Garnett. Selwyn. A story of French peasant life in the 19th century, |