Creator
John Bagnall
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[4]
Keep out of the way, so as not to inflict my- self on anybody. I doubt whether I shall ever over come it. The fact is Friend Muir I have been so unmercifully snubled through life, on account of my lameness that I feel it [illegible] to my [underlined: manhood] to put up with it. And although lonesomeness is terrific on a sociable dis- position like mine, it is no disgrace for me to retreat be- fore such unjust, and over- whelming odds. Go on, Dear friend, and “May Heaven help you” to describe the wonders of your travels, as only John Muir can. Truly Yours, John Bagnall.
00819
[1]
356 Jessie Street San Francisco, Cal. Oct. 20, 1878.
Mr. Muir,
Dear Sir and Friend:
I was so glad to receive your letter, for I often think of you as fairly [underlined: reveling] among the wonders & beauties of nature! How often it occurs to me, that I would like to be [underlined: able] to be with you, even in the most humble capa- city - - For I should be in very Heaven, And feel [underlined: new life], by Nature given! I feel almost as though I could drop the sympathetic tear, for those poor fellows who lay in the grave yards of
[Page 2]
[2]
White pine, for, although some, if they had made money would have squander- ed it, many no doubt earnestly worked for a “pile”: — “Not for to hide it in a hedge, Nor for a train Attendant; But for the [underlined: glorious privilege] Of being [underlined independent..”] I have noticed that almost death-like stillness, (to which you refer)- in the deserted mining camps of Cal. It seemed as though most of the people had gone to a funeral; the few who remained, looked as though they had already at- tended the funeral of their hopes.
[3]
I heard that you, and the company, had indeed been “Thirsty” “Nearly unto death”, and of your almost miraculous escape, pray do not venture too far; — I know you are as brave as a lion, in prosecuting your researches, but what a dreadful cut, it would be to us all, to [underlined: lose] you [underlined: in such a way!] My health is reason- ably good, though last Winter was so severe upon me that I have had the irksome task, of taking care of myself, most of the time since. I cannot, as yet, overcome that depression of Spirits, that desire to
Location
San Francisco, Cal.
Date Original
1878 Oct 20
Source
Original letter dimensions: 20.5 x 25 cm.
Recommended Citation
Bagnall, John, "Letter from John Bagnall to John Muir, 1878 Oct 20." (1878). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 450.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/450
Resource Identifier
muir03_0939-md-1.pdf
File Identifier
Reel 03, Image 0938
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
2 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
