Creator
C. Hart Merriam
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[4]
sometime before spring we shall have the pleasure of welcoming at least a [illegible] [illegible] of the Muir family at 1919 - 16 St., I remain, with kindest regards to you all,
a[illegible] yours
C. Hart Merriam
John Muir
Martinez, Calif.
[1]
Washington
Jan. 7, 1902
My dear Mr. Muir:
Yesterday the expressman brought to the Department of Agriculture a great California Santa Claus load for the Merriam-Bailey tribe, with a strong smell of Martinez surrounding it like a glorious halo. But as neither of us drink our wine or eat our nuts & raisins at the Department, we had to curb our appetites until we could pack the sacks and [illegible] the 2 1/2 miles to our houses. Then there was great rejoicing in the land and the voices of festive Merriams of various ages and assorted sizes might have heard by the hungry multitude outside. It would do your dry house good to hear the children praise the Muir nuts & raisins. No one can ever value them behind that any others are half so good - and the old folks are inclined to agree with them.
02927
2/
last week we had the biggest flood of scientific men ever known. No less than 21 scientific societies met here between Christmas and New Years, and the register shows that about 1350 persons came to the meetings. Many stayed to look around & see the sights, and some to do a little work, after the meeting, so we are hardly yet recovered. Tomorrow I go to New York and Brooklyn to lecture, as "every little helps". Dr. Jordan was here yesterday. Have had hard luck with photographs since my return, not having found anyone who will make good prints. Am just trying 2 new men and hope for better results. As soon as I get a man who will do good work I will have your prints made. Please tell Helen we all are anxious to know which story she likes best and which she thinks funniest. The Merriam family is divided into 3 or 4 parts on this momentous question. My oldest boy, John C. Merrian of Berkeley,
3/
has been here some time studying his California [cane?] bones in comparison with specimens in our collections. About half are indistinguishable from living species (rabbits, foxes, bobcats, woodrats &c) while among the others are types as different as mast[illegible] & Arst[illegible] - and all from the same [cane?]! We hope that Mrs. Muir has shaken off the last of her rheumati[illegible], that Helen is not growing thin over the senerity of her professors, that Wanda has abstained from falling in love with "this Philosopher", and that the serene dignity of the head of the Muir family will never again be led so far astray as to review another book. With [illegible]es of thanks from all the way up & down the Merriam family for the 'interior decorations' from California, and with continued deferred hopes that
Location
Wasington, [D.C.]
Date Original
1902 Jan 7
Source
Original letter dimensions: 20.5 x 26.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Merriam, C. Hart, "Letter from C. Hart Merriam to John Muir, 1902 Jan 7." (1902). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 4561.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/4561
Resource Identifier
muir12_0055-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 12, Image 0055
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
