Creator
Eliza S. Hendricks
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[Marked "Indianapolis letters"]
296 Meridian St.,
Indianapolis, October 7, 1891.
My dear Mr. Muir:
Yesterday I received a letter from Kate Graydon written from your home. A pleasant item in the letter was a statement that you have not forgotten me, and more than that, that you remember me very kindly. I certainly remember you thus, but for a better reason than you have for remembering me - namely that you were a friend in need. I was very sad and homesick when you crossed my path; and the fact that you had lived in Indianapolis, and knew and loved the people whom I knew and loved attracted me very strongly toward you; and, when you add to that the kindness and sympathy you showed me, you see good reason for my remembering you with a very kind interest. I was indeed glad to hear so directly from you. And now I am going to show my confidence in your kind regard for me by asking a favor of you. The first week in November occurs our Flower Mission Fair, which is a great affair, as Kate will explain to you. One of the ways by which the ladies hope to interest the multitude who throng the Fair, is to get up a small book, composed of short contributions from prominent writers. My niece Bessie H. is helping to work the matter up, and I offered my services to her, by asking two or three writers whom I know personally, to write something for the book, even if it should be but a few lines - only a thought, and upon any subject - from glaciers to babies, or from sea lions to cats. Now you may be so situated that the smallest contribution on the most insignificant theme may be a burden and if so, all you have to do is to refuse. And if you are too busy to write your regrets, Kate will do that for you. I hope, however, you can find time to answer my letter. I should like very much to see once more the handwriting which often brought thoughts of cheer to me when I was lonely and sad, after the death of my sister. Your intimate association with nature gave a breezy freshness to your thoughts which was perceptible in even the shortest notes you wrote your friends. You cannot know what the brief visit you made at my brother's home in Morris Ravine - you have not forgotten it, I am sure - was to us all. I have been able to keep you in view somewhat all these subsequent years, by your contributions to the magazines.
Please give my kind regards to Mrs. Muir, whom I know only as the wife of a friend. I should like to see your little girls of whom I hear bright things. I wish you would send me their photographs. Please also present my affectionate regards to Kate Graydon. I was glad to hear from her, and shall answer her letter one of these days. I hear you are to be written up in one of the magazines soon. If I find out which one, I shall read the article with pride and pleasure.
Very sincerely your friend,
Eliza S. Hendricks.
Location
…Indidianapolis, [Ind]
Date Original
1891 Oct 7
Source
Original letter dimensions: 17 x 23 cm.
Recommended Citation
Hendricks, Eliza S., "Letter from Eliza S. Hendricks to John Muir, 1891 Oct 7." (1891). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 114.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/114
Resource Identifier
muir07_0319-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 07, Image 0319
Collection Identifier
Online finding aid for the microform version of the John Muir Correspondence http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0w1031nc
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
Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Pages
4 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
