Creator
Oscar R. Coast
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[4]
funeral ceremonies.
The day before we went under advise to Miradero - he took a short drive down with me - as I was going to [illegible] and my last memory of him as I saw him out of doors was his standing near the beach looking at the great ocean.
I then saw him only once in the sanitarium
I felt sure that you would be glad to know these details of the last days of your friend.
I was very glad [illegible] at
[1]
Santa Barbara Calif
May 16:- 1913.
"The Gregson"
My Dear Mr Muir.
Our good friend Francis Brown was taken from us last Sunday morning while at Miradero Sanitarium - to which place he had gone from "The Gregson in the hope of being benefited by the good care of a sanitarium - but neither he nor his friends realized his serious condition
05450
[2]
The cause of his death was - the physician told me - an incurable liver trouble; and had he lived it would only have meant years of suffering; so, now I can only feel thankful that he has been spared this pain; and thankful for the privilage of his friendship. and companionship - and that the world now has the benefit of an unending influence of a useful life well spent. We saw each
[3]
other often at "The Gregson" (a boarding house) - and he often often seemed discouraged in being unable to work as he wished on his life of Lincoln which fortunately he completed just before going to Miradero - and received satisfactory acknowledgement from his publisher of receipt of the manuscript.
He was brave in his last fight. Fortunately his daughter, and his son from Pasadena were with him at the last. - and he was taken to Pasadena for the
[8]
in a "temperence" movement that has closed all saloons and bars; leaving dining room (Hotel) privileges and wholesale houses. This afternoon I am going to "work" on my big acre and a half ranch - It will be good for the digestion
With Very Best Wishes,
Sincerely Your Friend
Oscar R. Coast
Word will reach me here or be forwarded later to Pasadena or Iowa City
[5]
your kind reply to my letter - but sorry it gave me no hope of seeing you here or in Pasadena.
I am going next month to Pasadena on my way Eastward (to Iowa City, Iowa & then New York Via Denver) - and if Mrs Funk is still in Hollywood I shall see her; and if not there I may stop for at H[illegible] if weather is not too bad and then I could get a decent sketch. Unfortunately
05450
[6]
I did not recover from the grip attack so as to be able to work as I anticipated this winter but hope for better luck in the future.
I want to thank you for and congratulate the many who have been waiting anxiously for your last book that [illegible] come to them and is giving so much delight - as I hear of it on all sides in words of praise.
By the way thinking that you would be in Hollywood.
[7]
I left with Mrs Funk the copy of "Stickeen" in which you kindly wrote for me but failed to sign your name - which of course I want; so I shall look forward to having your autograph in it some day. May ask her to send it to you
The days here are now delightful and I am very reluctant to [illegible] California - but want to have ten days in Pasadena, and then spend as much time as I can with my invalid brother in Iowa City
This town has just had a "revolution"
Location
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Date Original
1913 May 16
Source
Original letter dimensions: 16.5 x 26 cm.
Recommended Citation
Coast, Oscar R., "Letter from Oscar R. Coast to John Muir, 1913 May 16." (1913). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 3992.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/3992
Resource Identifier
muir21_0423-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 21, Image 0423
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
