Creator
John Muir
Recipient
[Loulu Perry] Osborn
Transcription
[First draft of letter, in note-book #59] (71)
Martinez, Nov. 17, 1900.
My dear Mrs. Osborn:
Nothing could be kinder than the invitation to delightful Wing on Wing, and how gladly we would accept you know. But grim Duty, like Bunyan's Apollyon is now straddling across the whole breadth of the way crying "No." Wanda is at school in Berkeley, working hard, expecting to enter the State University next year, and I am smothered in writing without accomplishing much. I never shall forget the leafy Hudson hills in their glorious yellow and red autumny array, the wing on wing room you so kindly call mine, and the lovely, peaceful, restful time I enjoyed there when l was worn and weary. Of the many Muir rooms, called mine, illustrating the abounding benevolence of human nature to meward, none attracts me more. I hope I shall be allowed to enjoy it again ere long. In the meantime, and always, I am,
Your friend,
John M.
Last summer, as you know, I was in Alaska. This year I was in the Sierra, going up by Lake Tahoe and down by Yosemite, crossing the Sierra four times along the head-waters of the Truckee, Carson, Mokelumne, Calaveras, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced rivers, examining forests and learning what I could in a general way of birds and mammals, with Dr. Merriam and his sister and Mr. Bayley, a triumvirate of naturalists, with infinite appetite for squirrels and chipmunks, etc. We had a delightful [time] and in Yo[semite] your long planned trip came to mind and I wished then you had been with us.
I am now at work on the last of a series of wild park articles to be collected and published in book form by the Houghton Mifflin Co., and which I hope to get off my hands ere long, to be followed by Sierra and Alaska things as fast as my slow interrupted pen can be spurred to go.
02890.
Martinez, Cal. Nov. 18, 1900
My dear Mrs. Osborn,
Nothing could be kinder than your invitation to Wing-Wing, how gladly we would accept, you know. But grim Duty, like Bnnyan's Apollyon is now "straddling across the whole breadth of the way" crying no.
Wanda is at school in Berkeley hard at work, expecting next year to enter the State University. She is a faithful steady scholar, quite, womanly, not in the least odd or brilliant, but strong-willed, earnest unstoppable as an avalanche.
I am at work on the last of a series of park forest articles to be collected and published in book form by the Houghton Mifflin Co. which I hope to get off my hands soon. But there is endless work in sight ahead-Sierra Alaska things to follow as fast as my slow,sadly interrupted pen can be spurred to go.
Yes, I know it is two years since I enjoyed the dainty chickaree room you so kindly call mine. Last summer as you know I was in Alaska, This year I was in the Sierra going up by way of Lake Tahoe down by Yosemite Valley, crossing the range four times along the head waters of the Truckee, Carson, Mokelumne, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Walk Tuolumne Merced rivers, revisit-ing old haunts, examining forest learning what I could about birds mammals with Dr. Merriam and his sister Mr. Bailey-keen naturalists with infinite appetite for Voles, Marmots, Squirrels, chipmunks etc. We had a delightful time of course, in Yosemite I remembered your hoped for visit to the grand Valley wished you were with us, I'm very sorry I missed Sir Michael Foster. Though prevented now I hope ere long to see Wing Wing in Autumn glory. In the meantime always
I am ever your friend
John Muir
02890
Location
Martinez [Calif.]
Date Original
1900 Nov 17
Source
Original letter dimensions: 22.5 x 14.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Muir, John, "Letter from John Muir to [Loulu Perry] Osborn, 1900 Nov 17." (1900). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 4335.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/4335
Resource Identifier
muir11_0443-trans.tif
File Identifier
Reel 11, Image 0443
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
2 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
