Creator
Mrs. Lydia Muir Johnson
Recipient
John Muir
Preview
Transcription
[2]any one bearing his name, had, in so short a life, given so much to the literature of the world, for my father was a man of great literary attainments, and numbered among his personal friends and correspondents, names, now historical. Henry Clay, Clement Vallandingham of Ohio, a man known to the people, probably before you opened your eyes upon this sublunary sphere.The people of Alex., Va. made my father mayor of the city & although, that was no great honor it was the highest office in their gift, and they gave it gladly.My Husband also, served the same people, in the same capacity, and as a physician of high standing for 35 years, he gave much to the public in his literary efforts, some of which, I will sometime, mail you. When[3]I read the article sent, I in fancy wandered with you, through what had heretofore seemed to me a pathless region, similar to nothing I could fancy, except Iceland or Greenland; contries, where the southern sun shines, but never renders desirable as a home.I regret, more than I can tell, that I did not write to you, when I first felt impelled to do so, for then you would, perhaps, have called to see us, when you visited our city last year. But, regrets are vain, looking back is useless, for we all know, only too well, that "last years nests contain no birds." I have a cousin, whose name is yours, and when I think how different his life has been from yours, I ask myself the question, "which has enjoyed life the more? You, giving your[6]some ancestor, perhaps her father, one of the rarest natures, I have ever known. With her, there is no parleying with "what will the world say"? but she asks "is it right"? and there must be an incontrovertible "yes" before she will even consent to consider a question. If you have time to spare, to reply to this, perhaps, tiresome epistle, I hope you will itnroduce me to your family, and thus enable me to bring before my mind's eye, your surroundings. and daily life. Your life must be full of pleasant hardships, if you will allow the expression, and your literary efforts, go to prove how little vacation you allow yourself. I have read many articles from your pen, and congratulate you, upon, yours, being the pen of a ready writer."Hoping sometime to welcome you to our city and home, I am etcMrs. Lydia Muir Johnson01843
Location
Washington, D. C.
Date Original
1894-09-09T00:00:00
Source
Original letter dimensions: 21.5 x 25 cm.
Resource Identifier
muir08_0391-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 08, Image 0391
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 2
Keywords
John Muir, correspondence, letters, author, writing, naturalist, California, correspondent, mail, message, post, exchange of letters, missive, notes, epistle
