Authors

John Muir

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Kimes Entry Number

A28-a

Original Date

3-1-1915

William and Maymie Kimes Annotation

In this article, Melville B. Anderson writes of his visits with Muir at Martinez, saying that Muir was always very eager to drop his work for the opportunity of a long talk. On a visit in August 1914, among the stories Muir related was an episode that occurred while he was with the Forestry Commission in the mountains of the south. He had had some differences with an Eastern naturalist and on this occasion believed he had gotten "the better of him." As they climbed the slopes to the higher mountains, the autumn colors were strikingly beautiful. "My friend and the others were making fun of me for my enthusiasm," Muir said. When they reached the summit where the panorama was breathtaking, Muir continued, "I couldn't hold in, and began to jump about and sing and glory in it all. Then I happened to look around and catch sight of------standing there as cool as a rock, with a half amused look on his face at me, but never saying a word. 'Why don't you let yourself out at a sight like that?' I said. 'I don't wear my heart upon my sleeve,' he retorted. 'Who cares where you wear your little heart, man?' I cried. 'There you stand in the face of all Heaven come down on earth, like a critic of the universe, as if to say, Come, Nature, bring on the best you have: I'm from BOSTON!"

Publication

The American Museum Journal [Natural History], v. 15

Page/Column

pp. 116-121

The Conversation of John Muir.

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