Creator
Mrs. L. Strentzel
Recipient
[John Muir]
Transcription
[1]
Alhambra, August 14th 1878.
Dear Friend,
We are very thankful for your kind letters, the more so as they prove that you have not forgotten us, and that you continue safe and well amid all the dangers of that wild country. It is a great relief to hear that the Indians are not likely to be troublesome much longer, yesterday’s paper reports the surrender of a large number of them. Your vivid description of the 40 mile desert seems to [illegible] it all directly before me, and I can imagine just how you felt during your dreary die, for I have not forgotten my own experiences in early days of burning sands and the shadeless glare of desert sunshine.
[Page 2]
[2]
But after torrid days, how you must enjoy the restful beauty of the moonlight and the starlight. With all this the continual pleasure you have in discoveries that add so much to your store of geological knowledge will more than compensate for all the hardships of the journey. If the bonnie brier-roses are still in bloom Louie will be thankful if you send her [illegible] of the sweetest buds that will keep their fra- -grance over the three days of coming. The rail-road passenger trains commenced running between Oakland and Mastiney the first of July, and at last it is reasonable to expect that they will continue to run on and on even until the end of time, unless superseded by cars aerial. The superintendent promises to have the cars going through to Sacramento by the first of September, and it seems as if no traveling could be more delightful than this 50 mile ride along the shore with pleasant hills and the sea waters always in sight. We intend to go up on the first train to see Mrs. Carr. The Doctor
[Page 3]
[3]
was very sick after returning to Sacramento and it has been very hard for them both. Seeing on the Nevada map that there is a branch railroad from Talisade to Eureka, the Doctor thought it a good opportunity to send you some early grapes, but I am afraid they will not be very nice as that variety does not keep well. Those “Tokays and Alexandria” will be ripe after the middle of September, and then you must write what time you will be near enough to receive them from the railroad. We are just in the midst of the fruit season so you can fancy what a busy time we are having. Our grain, remarkably fine, is now all stored away, and while overseeing the kitchen stove I thought often about your crystal lake of the mountains, Tahoe. I still hope to be able to spend a cool quiet week near it before the summer is ended. Our orchard is more beautiful than ever before so late in the season, the foliage is so lu[illegible]nt of the darkest richest green contrasting finely
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[4]
with the brown hills above. The pomegranate trees were perfectly splendid all through July, and there are still blossoms enough for a fresh bouquet every day. We hope to hear from you again soon.
Yours truly, Mrs. L. Strentzel.
[in margin: 891]
00806
Location
Alhambra, [Calif]
Date Original
1878 Aug 14
Source
Original letter dimensions: 39.5 x 12.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Strentzel, Louisiana E., "Letter from Mrs. L. Strentzel to [John Muir], 1878 Aug 14." (1878). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 437.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/437
Resource Identifier
muir03_0873-md-1.pdf
File Identifier
Reel 03, Image 0872
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
