Letter from Clara Barrus to John Muir, 1910 Mar 24.

Creator

Clara Barrus

Recipient

John Muir

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Transcription

Middle town, N.Y.,March 24, 1910.Dear Mr. Muir,You wrote me a good letter in December, and I rec'd the Christmas greeting on the Yosemite card, and gave Harriet's to her, also; and I've thought of you times without number and wondered what you were doing. Ever since Feb. 20 came around (the date of our starting on the Western tour) I have lived over again our unique and delightful experiences. A year ago now and we were in our comfortable little cottage in Pasadena, and you were coming over from Los Angeles once in a while to see us, and tease us - when you didn't lose your way.I had a kind letter from Mrs. Sellers some weeks ago, and then you were with them. I hear from Mr. Browne occasionally - the dear man! I fear he is working too hard. I hope Mr. Keith is as well as when you wrote and that Helen continues to improve.I wonder if your ears did not burn on the 17th. I addressed the Federation of Women's Clubs in this city on my trip "With Two Nature Lovers in the West," and had a very enthusiastic and attentive audience. I thoroughly enjoyed it myself, and lived over again some of our memorable days. I put you two Johnnies through your paces before the assembled women, so they all know you now, and are eager to see you.I wonder if you will ever come in this part of the country again. How I wish you would! The Century Magazine took a part of my article - near 4000 words. I called it "With John of Birds and John of Mountains in the west. It was the part that they did not use that I worked over into my talk before the Club. I have been asked to give it again, before a larger audience, and probably shall do so in April. The Century paper probably won't come out till summer.I wish I could get that story straight that you told us about the fellows who, were (where were you at the time?) asking you about the geology of the region, and concluded it was "sunk or heaved up, or - or something." If not too much trouble, could you write the main things about it - just Indicate them, I can fill in. But don't bother if too much trouble, And I wonder where in Yosemite it .was that Joseph Cook slipped and fell, and arose a wetter and wiser man. I'd like to write a separate article about you, but I find too many hiatuses in my knowledge of you, though, (you may not believe it), I have a good deal I could tell. If we could only have had that visit with you at your home, even for a few days, that I had counted on !I've been very much upset this spring. I almost had some property bought - an acre of ground and a cottage large enough to care for 4 or 5 patients, and I hoped to leave here this summer, and start a home of my own, but it fell through. The land on which the house stood was owned by some Holy Cross Fathers, and the woman of whom I was to buy it thought she could get them to give a long lease or sell that particular part, as the house and rest of the land was hers, and they had led her to believe they would do it, if she ever wanted to sell. But they backed out, and I was wofully disappointed. It was at west Park, only a short distance from Mr. Burroughs' home, and with a beautiful view of the Catskills and the Hudson.I had visions of shaking the dust of this place off forever, and living in the country, and with leisure to write and help Mr. Burroughs -but that dream is ended. Still I'm in correspondence with real estate men all around, and hope to find something in the country before long.Well, it is time to go on the wards now, so I'll let you get back to your work or your wandering.Always sincerely yours,Clara Barrus04736

Location

Middletown, N. Y.

Date Original

1910 Mar 24

Source

Original letter dimensions: 16.5 x 24.5 cm.

Resource Identifier

muir19_0277-trans.tif

File Identifier

Reel 19, Image 0277

Copyright Status

Copyright status unknown

Copyright Statement

Some letters written to John Muir may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

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.

Page Number

Page 7