Creator
John Muir
Recipient
[H. F.] Osborn
Transcription
[ca 16 Jul 1904]
Dr Mr Osborn = When I got back home after more than a years wandering over the world in both hemispheres N & S In the big talus of letters books pamphlets etc accumulated during more than a year [away?] from home. I found yr Boom & Crocke[illegible] address which I have heartily enjoyed It is an admirable plea for our poor horizontal fellow mortals [illegible] [illegible] first passing away in ruthless starvation & slaughter. Never before was the need for places of refuge & protection been so great. Fortunately at the last [hour?] when [illegible] ext[illegible]tion is right the government has began to act & your pamphlet is timely & should be widely distributed. I have often written on the subject but with [none?] effect The murder business by has gone ruthlessly [illegible]ly on until at last protective measures are being called for, partly I suppose because the pleasure of killing is in danger of being lost, from [those?] having [so?] little or nothing left to kill. but [illegible] partly [let?] [illegible]bly hope from a [dim?] gl[illegible] recognition of the rights
03409
To Henry Fainfield Osborn
Martinez, California
July 16, 1904
Dear Mr. Osborn:
In the big talus of letters, books, pamphlets etc. accumulated on my desk during more than a year's absence I found your Boone and Crockett address and have heartily enjoyed it. It is an admirable plea for our poor horizontal fellow- mortals, so fast passing away in ruthless starvation and slaughter. Never before has the need for places of refuge and protection been greater. Fortunately at the last hour, with utter extinction in sight the Government has begun to act under pressure of public opinion, however slight. Therefore your address is timely and should be widely published. I have often written on the subject, but mostly with non-effect. The murder business and sport by saint and sinner alike has been pushed ruthlessly merrily on, until at last protective measures are being called for, partly I suppose because the pleasure of killing is in danger of being lost from there being little or nothing left to kill, and partly, let us hope>from a dim glimmering recognition of the rights of animals and their kinship to ourselves.
How long it seems since my last visit to Wing-on-Wing! how far we have been, I got home a few weeks ago from a trip more than a year long, I went with Prof, Sargent and his son Robeson through Europe visiting the principal parks, gardens, art galleries etc. From Berlin we went to St. Petersburg, thence to the Crimea, by Moscow, the Caucasus, - across by Dariel Pass from Tiflis and back to Moscow. Thence across Siberia, Manchuria etc. to Japan and Shanghai.
"Preservation of the Wild animals of north America," Forest au Streau, apr.16,1904, pp 312-313.03409
At Shanghai left the Sargents set out on a grand trip alone free to India, Egypt, Ceylon, Australia, New Zealand, hence by way of Port Darwin, Timor through the Malay Archipelago to Manila, Thence to Hong Kong again Japan home by Honolulu. Had perfectly glorious times in India, Australia, New Zealand. The flora of Australia New Zealand are so novel and exciting I had to begin botanical studies over again, working night and day with endless enthusiasm. And what wondrous beasts and birds7 too? are there:
Do write and let me know how you all are. Remember me with kindest regards to Mrs. Osborn and the children and believe me ever
Faithfully yours
John Muir03409
Location
[Martinez, Calif.]
Circa Date
[1904 Jul 16]
Source
Original letter dimensions: 23.5 x 17 cm.
Recommended Citation
Muir, John, "Letter from John Muir to [H. F.] Osborn, [1904 Jul 16]." (1904). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 2831.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/2831
Resource Identifier
muir14_0378-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 14, Image 0378
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
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
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.
Copyright Holder
Muir-Hanna Trust
Copyright Date
1984
Pages
3 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
