Letter from John Muir to Sarah [Muir Galloway], 1869 Aug 1.

Creator

John Muir

Recipient

Sarah [Muir Galloway]

Preview

Transcription

smooth waters of civilized life have attractions for me whose power is increased by time & constant rambling but I am a captive I am bound, love of pure unblemished Nature seems to over- master & blur out of sight all other objects & considerations. I know that I could under ordinary circumstances accumulate wealth & obtain a fair position in society & I am arrived at an age that requires that I should choose some definite course for life But I am sure that the mind of no truant school boy is more free & disengaged from all the grave plans & purposes & pursuits of ordinary orthodox life than mine - But I wonder what spirit is conjuring up such sober affairs at this time I only meant to say a word by way of family greeting & tomorrow I will be among the sublimities of Yo Semite & forget that ever a thought of civilization or time-honored proprieties came among my pathless lawless thoughts & wanderings Darkness is coming on Good night Remember me to the small people & to Muirs in general throughtout all their tribes & families J M 00477

Location

…upper end of Yosemite two miles from…north…

Date Original

1869 Aug 1

Source

Original letter dimensions: 31.5 x 19.5 cm.

Resource Identifier

muir02_0123-let.tif

File Identifier

Reel 02, Image 0123

Copyright Status

Copyrighted

Copyright Statement

The unpublished works of John Muir are copyrighted by the Muir-Hanna Trust. To purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission to publish or exhibit them, see http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections/Fees-and-Forms-.html

Owning Institution

University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.

Copyright Holder

Muir-Hanna Trust

Copyright Date

1984

Page Number

Page 2