Creator
Mary V. Worstell
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
2.
never dimmed. I am a self-supporting woman and the journey West was for recreation only. I made no plans to turn the journey into profit beyond telling myself to keep eyes and heart open. On my return I chanced to attend a very poor lecture. At its close a friend said to me "You could do better than that!" - a sorry compliment! But the thought took root - and now I derive considerableaddition to my usual income from
[1]
[letterhead]
Mr. John Muir.
My dear Mr. Muir:
If community of admirations makes strangers into friends, we should be friends of almost four years' standing. In the summer of '97 it was my privilege to look upon the majesty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and there came into my life a glory which has
02913
3. [& 4]
my lectures. In the summer of '98 I returned to the Yosemite Valley - happy as a queen! I secured many photographs which I use in my lectures. Since then I have added lectures on the Yellowstone and the big Arizona Canon [diacritic].
The Yosemite is clearly the favorite with my audiences, and naturally, for I love the Happy Valley better than any other place in the world. And the great forests that hem it in make a fitting prelude for the mighty fugue that the mountains sing.
And now - I am doing what I never have done before - I am writing to thank an author for having written a book. I recently said to a well known New Yorker "I feel that I owe John Muir more gratitude than I can express, for in his 'National Parks' he has accomplished what I have tried to do - he has brought the glory and grandeur and
6
and the "Century" I know well. Is it any wonder that I sign myself
Truly and gratefully
Your friend
Mary V. Worstell.
I have the Sierra fever regularly every Spring - and your article in the Century on King's River Canon [diacritic] has made me think of a possible destination this coming season. Will you tell me - very briefly - if there is
5
[letterhead]
spirit of the Sierra Nevada mountains and valleys to everyone."
I have read the book to myself and I have read it aloud besides sharing it freely with my friends. Your "Mountains of California" is also one of my familiar friends, and your magazine articles in the "Atlantic"
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[7]
a stage-line from Visalia to the Canon [diacritic] - and if there are any accommodations for travelers in the valley - or must one procure a Camping-outfit?
Location
place unknown
Circa Date
[1901]
Source
Original letter dimensions: 17.5 x 22.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Worstell, Mary V., "Letter from Mary V. Worstell to John Muir, [ca. 1901]." (1901). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 4544.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/4544
Resource Identifier
muir11_1132-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 11, Image 1132
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
