Creator
Mary J. Arnold
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
Lakeport, Lake Co. Cal. Mar 24, 1902
Mr. John Muir
Dear Sir;
Your letter and the magazine were a pleasant surprise to me last night. It is evidence of your true nobility of soul, to so kindly recognize a stranger and living the lonely life that is my lot, I doubly appreciate your favor. Liberty, to live my own life and follow my own pursuits, has been denied by fate. I have for many years had the care of some one and my aged mother, who is now ninety-four, is at present my constant care. I too am growing old and my "Golden Sometime" will come on the other side, where I hope to explore elysion fields. Your article has made a homesickness in my heart. I have lived over again the
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happiest month of my whole life time, one month, spent in Yo Semite in the autumn of 1868. Some of my early life was passed in Mariposa County and my only child was born there in 1871. Yes, the Yo Semite is the most sacred spot on earth to me and you have sent me wandering there again. I hear the thunder of the falls, the rippling of the river, the rustle of leaves and the song of birds, I scent the odors of pines the ferry cliffs, and the crushed violets, as when in those dear, dead days, my horse galloped over the meadow. You have sent me an answer that I baptize with my tears. I had not read "Among the birds of Yo Semite" before. It contains not only facts but poetry, and coloring from a master hand.
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I thank you sincerely for giving me this pleasure and for your kind letter. I will return the book after I have allowed two of my friends to read it. I wrote a little article for the paper here last week but will it save one bird? If mothers could only be educated along humane lines, but they are so indifferent, through them many things could be rectified so to elevate the coming generations. I wish you might make a tour through Lake Co. and hear the birds. A bird murderer came here several years ago and in the name of science (mammon) carried of hundreds of beautiful corpses Probably he sold them to milleners. I wish they would give more of your writings to the schools. Through that avenue there is a little hope, if teachers do their duty to impress such lessons. Gratefully Yours, Mary J. Arnold
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Location
Lakeport, Lake Co. Calif.
Date Original
1902 Mar 24
Source
Original letter dimensions: 25.5 x 20 cm.
Recommended Citation
Arnold, Mary J., "Letter from Mary J. Arnold to John Muir, 1902 Mar 24." (1902). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 4632.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/4632
Resource Identifier
muir12_0303-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 12, Image 0303
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
3 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
