Creator
John Muir
Recipient
Mrs. [Annie] Bidwell
Transcription
[Page 1]
1419 Taylor St
S. F. March 28th 78
Dear Mrs Bidwell.
I have just returned from a weeks weathering at Lake Tahoe, where I have had a fine reviving roll in the snow, and swim in the crystal water, besides a good deal of fresh lusty exercise on snow shoes on the mountain slopes to the west of the lake, and between Tahoe City and Truckee.
The winter beauty of the woods and mountains is fairly enchanting, and it was seen under all kinds of light, from the full white glow of clear noonday sunshine to the gray darkness of cordial snowstorms. The whole was deliciously exhilarating and I come back to this dull pen life fairlt awakened and sane.
As I was passing the junction on the return I looked north and Chico ward, terribly tempted to switch off for a week or so, but my conscience would not allow me, because I have so much of this never-ending pen work piling up against me, and summer is drawing nigh, when I must take the
"[Page 2]
it is terribly aggravating to hear one claiming the office of teacher discoursing as well and so heartlessly on the glorious creation, of God. After proceeding a while with increasing caution he at length fell to story-telling in which he was quite amusing.
Before the Evolution period of the evening he took occasion to speak slightly of a friend of mine, an old botanist who has worked lovingly and well in the wild gardens of God near half a century. This of course brought on a capital indulgence of opposition for me.
In your letter I would infer that the Prof claimed Ammonites Chicoensis as a discovery of his own. It was discovered and named many years ago, together with some twentyfive or thirty other cretaceous shells from the exposed beds on Chico Creek, a list of which you may find on page 210, fol. I. Cal: Geological Survey.
Had a letter from Gray two weeks ago in answer to mine containing notes on the Generals old favorite - Pinus ponderosa.
Also a letter from your sister full of pleasant memories of our fine excursion.
Ever cordially yours, John Muir."
Location
San Francisco, Calif.
Date Original
1878 Mar 28
Source
Original letter dimensions: 28 x 21 cm.
Recommended Citation
Muir, John, "1878 Mar 28 JM to Mrs Bidwell p1" (1878). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 4832.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/4832
Resource Identifier
muir00_042-let
File Identifier
MSS 048 John Muir Papers
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
Copyrighted
Copyright Statement
The unpublished works of John Muir are copyrighted by the Muir-Hanna Trust. To purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission to publish or exhibit them, see http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections/Fees-and-Forms-.html
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.
Copyright Holder
Muir-Hanna Trust
Copyright Date
1984
Pages
2 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
