Creator
Mary Elizabeth Parsons
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[2]
our book, but I have endeavored on the enclosed piece of paper to show as nearly as I can the size and color of our flower from memory. I have read over the descriptions of Erigeron caespitosus and E. [salsuginosus?] - and am sure ours is the latter. the botanists of the Academy also determine it as such. In reading over the descrition of caespitosus which I enclose - it does not seem possible it could
[1]
Dear Mr Muir
I thank you very much for your kind letter and encouraging words about our book on the wild flowers. I should have written before but have been trying to secure a specimen of the Arctic daisy (as we supposed it) to send you. But I can get only a poor dried up thing which gives no conception of its beauty. I am not the artist of
02757
[3]
have been possessed of the beauty you ascribe to your Arctic Daisy. It is such a small flower - the rays only 3 or 4 lines long - and white. The waiters at Deer Park Inn this last August assured us ours was the Arctic Daisy - and one of them has travelled up and down the mountains from Alaska southward, a long range, and says he has found it all up and down - Now, dear Mr. Muir, I do not wish to dispute your letter in any way, I only wish to be very sure of my ground before printing the name in print. This lovely flower of ours grew on a stem (usually only one head on a stem) a foot to twenty inches high. - We found it starring those high plushy, green meadows - 7000 to 8000 ft above the sea. I enclose a piece of paper with characters of both
[5]
much to hear your further opinion upon the matter. Do you still think your Arctic Daisy Erigeron caespitosus? There ought to be some common name for ours it is such a charming flower - Could you not suggest one? Thanking you for your patient attention in this matter and hoping to hear from you,
I am,
[4]
from Gray's Synoptical flora - Are you not familiar with this daisy of ours too? The beautiful Erigeron Coulteri - of about the same size with many pure white and narrower rays (I enclose one) grows in meadows at a lesser altitude - say 6000 ft. covering the meadows with its exquisite flowers. If not troubling you too much I should like
[6]
Gratefully and Sincerely
Mary Elizabeth Parsons.
San Rafael Nov 21st.
Location
San Rafael, [Calif.]
Circa Date
[190] Nov 21
Source
Original letter dimensions: 20 x 24.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Parsons, Mary Elizabeth, "Letter from Mary Elizabeth Parsons to John Muir, [ca. 1900] Nov 21." (1900). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 4337.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/4337
Resource Identifier
muir11_0449-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 11, 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
