Creator
Mary M. Graydon
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[3]
one of the pleasant things of her life. Mrs Victor Hendricks is quite worn out with [nursing. The "[Lily?] Gr[illegible] Mother" died a year ago. I was going [to?] [say?] Mrs Hendricks excelled as a daughter, but she fills every [illegible]tation of life perfectly. [We?] have had more deaths in a year than we have had in 10 yrs. & as they [fall?] I ask, "who will take their place?" Gen Harrison died yesterday - a Statesman [loved?] by his friends & admired by all.
[1] 01611
Indianapolis
1425 Central Ave
March 14th
My dear Mr Muir,
I sent you a paper noticing the death of Miss Hendricks & I promised the family I would write to you. Miss Eliza had been sick for 6 months, for that time confined to her bed & room. Thro' this suffering & confinement she was brave & cheerful. she had many friends
[2]
who did all they could with flowers & visits to alleviate her loneliness. but of course she was lonely - she was at her brother Victors & the attention of a Nurse & the devotion of Mr & Mrs Hendricks. These two are beautiful Ch[illegible]s! Miss Eliza was a superior [human?], While truthful, she never said things that lacerated! Lines of poetry fell from her lips, as words do from ordinary mortals, her mind was stored with the poet's beautiful thoughts, she read & she meditated. Then too, she was a true friend, she knew how to rebuke & how to be faithful, speaking always frankly. Of course she was lonely, but she never intruded this on friends. she had a ready humor that made her delightful. Miss Eliza always inquired about your book, she couldn't believe she was to die without seeing it. Your friendship was one
2. [4]
Our greatest personal loss is Mr Jackson, every day of his life was an expression of the Divinity of Christ - nor was his namby-pamby Good[ness?], he could rebuke heroically!" his last words to my boy were, "Will be good to your Mother." That man was exactly what he seemed, & the best friend I ever had. Some foot-pads caught him one night & pushing him for [convenience?] aganist a lamp post one exclaimed, "H-ll if it ain't Uncle Billy," & they cut down the nearest all[ey?]. His pall bearers were [not?] the great of the town
[5]
but the laboring men around the [Station?]. A little story ? about Miss Eliza, shortly after the last operation when the Drs had gone, she asked her Cousin to look in the dictionary & see if one had pronounced a word correctly!, "ruling passion" etc. Well, perhaps you have already heard that you will see Kate before we do. She has collapsed,
01611
3 [6]
of course she could not continue to stand such work, she will be at I 530 college [an?] [illegible] [illegible], about April 1[0?]th, she is on her way home, where I think she will rest a year, [illegible] I hope for all time. Well, write to us, tell us about the book, there is interest here, even if Miss Eliza is gone.
[7]
When do you come East? put our number in your book & stop with us.
I want to hear of your children, & I want [in margin: 940] [always?] to thank you & Mrs Muir for each & all kindnesses to my Kate.
As ever -
your friend
Mary M Graydon.
01611
Location
Indianapolis, [Ind.]
Circa Date
[1901]
Source
Original letter dimensions: 19.5 x 25.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Graydon, Mary M., "Letter from Mary M. Graydon to John Muir, [1901]." (1901). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 4541.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/4541
Resource Identifier
muir11_1116-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 11, Image 1116
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
5 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
