Creator
W[illiam] H. Trout
Recipient
[John Muir]
Preview
Transcription
visit with him after my Pacific trip. You can understand why I like to visit old friends. Henry was in his 82d year only 4 years ahead of me.3You see I have not quit saw mill work yet. It is no comparison with your magnificent line of work, but it seems to be about the best way for me to be useful. I am still improving the present good machinery. Not so much to do the work faster, but more exact and with less waste of material. My son is my boss and I am a willing worker. I shove in 8 hours every day, mostly over the drawing board. I had pleasant visit to Canada in the fall. Duncan Stirling, my sister Maggie and Peter, are the only old timers left there. Oh there is Eliza there also, who resides mostly in Ill. Duncan just passed his 70th birthday last week, but his health is very uncertain. Had a severe sickness this winter. Sister Maggie is not strong but lively. Peter had a fall downstairs crippling one of legs badly, and the confinement gave him an attack of pneumonia, but he is recovering from both. Edward in Hollywood is the toughest of the crowd. He seems to have such an exuberance of animal strength that he takes to digging to work it off. I suppose that is California.I reckoned last summers journey would be the last western journey for me. The boys were afraid to have me go alone as I did, but if I can hold out good, possibly 1915 may see there again. Not that I care for the great fair, or great sights. I value the interchange of thought and mutual sympathy with old friends. Right or wrong, scientific or not, I regard mind or spirit as eternal. Being so there is a value in personal and spiritual relationships that is beyond all material considerations We can carry out with us our identity and our character but as far as I can see or think, that only. So to me it is valuable to maintain and preserve or conserve if you choose our tried friends and acquaintances So hoping to see you again before I shuffle off I remain as ever your friendW. H. Trout[in margin: Henry Trout of Buffalo died last July He and wife were visiting friends in Brooklyn N.Y. Weakness of the heart was the trouble He had no sickness He was a rare noble fellow I was looking forward to a good]
Location
Lufking, Taxas
Date Original
1912 Mar 15
Source
Original letter dimensions: 28 x 21.5 cm.
Resource Identifier
muir20_0849-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 20, Image 0849
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 3
Keywords
John Muir, correspondence, letters, author, writing, naturalist, California, correspondent, mail, message, post, exchange of letters, missive, notes, epistle
