Creator
Katharine M. Graydon
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[4]
I have felt much Mr. S. [T.?] Alexander's death, so needless it seems and so tragic. His letters all thro that wonderful Africa were delightful, the trip had been so successful until that fatal visit to Victoria Falls. It was a heart rending experience for Annie, to spend those hours alone beside that dying father and then to leave him so far away and to take in the loneliness of deep sorrow the long trip home. What fine traits these are in human nature! Many people will sorely miss Mr. A., not the least of whom am I.
I hope you are all well. I mean soon to write to Helen and thank her for her picture, or dare I? Never should I have dream it, so completely does my little girl seem to have vanished; perhaps, however, the child is mother to the woman, How is that?
With love to Mrs. Muir and the girls, to your sister and the valley, I am
Sincerely your friend
Katharine M. Grayden.
[in margin: Don't forget me.]
[1]
Dec. 15, 1904.
[letterhead]
Dear Mr. Muir,
No feature of vacation is more grateful than the opportunity to talk with the far-away friends. I think of you all many, many times, but occupation and fatigue prevent my telling you; and in my walks I talk with you distant friends in a manner with which, I am sure, Lando[illegible] could never bear comparison! Such amusement, if not satisfying, it at least [harmless?]. Well, another Christmas will soon be here and then soon another year is added to the
03477
[2]
"fate of us. I wish the joy of the season to you all, and with Tiny [Tim?] exclaim,
"God bless us every one!"
Your letter reached me in the summer, and I was glad to hear the news it bore. I know you are working hard, when are we to see the new [book?] Yesterday I picked up an old Atlantic, and re-read your review of the "Silva" with renewed interest and pleasure. I felt, as not before so much, the change in your style the last dozen years. Does anybody else comment on it? If "the style is the man", as the French assert, has the man changed, too? And yet, I think it the common experience with writers. I have been
[3]
struck with it in Lowell. But, whether early or late, your writing possesses a charm for me that never [illegible]aries, and I only want more of it - a regular horse leech's daughter, you may say.
What are you reading these days? I am often times hungry for [illegible] and to listen to the people who read. With all the beauty of this sweet spot, I do not have that and I miss it.
The Indianapolis friends are about as usual. Janet deemed very near the end all the summer, then the fall frosts [illegible]some renewed vigor alas! The only kind wish for her is that all should be over as soon as possible, as there is help, only great suffering now. Aunt Julie lived, I don't know how, only because she must out live.
Location
Honolulu, Hawaii
Date Original
1904 Dec 15
Source
Original letter dimensions: 21.5 x 28 cm.
Recommended Citation
Graydon, Katharine M., "Letter from Katharine M. Graydon to John Muir, 1904 Dec 15." (1904). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 2914.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/2914
Resource Identifier
muir14_0694-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 14, Image 0694
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
2 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
