Creator
J[ulia] M[errill] Moores
Recipient
[John Muir]
Transcription
[1]
Fort Mackinan August 19th 1876
My Dear Friend,
Your farewell note of the 2nd of July – after halting at Indianapolis – and learning the way – followed me here. I wander many times if in your wanderings your feet have ever trod this fair island. I should love to think that you had been here. Sister Kate and I left home the last of June – and have been here with our dear Cousins [underlined: the Houghs] – since then. – You may be sure that we have enjoyed ourselves. We were neither of us well- she worn out with her years labor in school – and I – worn with
[Page 2]
care and sickness. There was no other way then to come off- and we are glad that we did. This is a beautiful place. Not mild enough for you – but very satisfactory to such as we – who see nothing the year round but brick walls and dusty streets! We are living in the garrison – and it is our first experience of military life, Col. Hough is Commander of the Post. Still we do not find it at all disagreeable for there is only one small company of soldiers here. – the most of the regiment having gone out to meet the Sioux.- But the island! It has been a source of delight since we came. We are where we can continually see the Straits of Mackinan – with lakes [ Huren?] & Michigan stretching off on either side.
[Page 3]
Perhaps you know the [ situation?] of the Fort. Some one hundred and fifty feet almost perpendicularly above the water – built on the rock. A few steps will take us into thickets of evergreens – along shady roads. over arched with maples & oaks or birch. Mossy banks – or hillsides covered with ferns.- Imm[illegibles] – daisies & [illegible]slips – with the slight hare bell’ vary the scene. The side from one side of the island to the other – through these shady lanes – or rather roads. for they wind about in every conceivable way – There is a post boat in which we can sail – or we can get a row boat and row Cousin Charlie will take us around the island. We are at no loss for occupation. all day long we breathe this perfect air and at night sleep as we did when children.
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[Page 4]
But you will think this all a semi civilized home. So I for bear. I am glad to think of you in your beloved valley. When I think of you writing your book it brightens me – I know I can not under stand it as a whole. I shall do with it as I used to when a child – pick out the pretty places’. – Our friends at home are suffering from the heat. My Merrill boy’ is home from Yale. much [in margin: 950] grown & happy to be at rest for awhile. Janet is a darling child sweet & obedient loving to live. Your prince Charlie earned his own money by a year’s work – took himself to the Centennial – stayed a month & brought himself home. The children are a great comfort to me, all of them I know that you will be glad to know it. Miss Hendricks is not well – but none of our friends are who are in the city. Sister K. sends love & wants to see your book. With love J. M. Moores
Location
Fort Mackinaw
Date Original
1876 Aug 19
Source
Original letter dimensions: 13 x 39.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Moores, Julia Merrill, "Letter from J[ulia] M[errill] Moores to [John Muir], 1876 Aug 19." (1876). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 353.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/353
Resource Identifier
muir03_0450-md-1.pdf
File Identifier
Reel 03, Image 0449
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
