Creator
Kate M. Graydon
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[4]
From being my teacher, he has become my friend, & one that [in margin: 954] I take the greatest pleasure in introducing to you.
As ever your friend Kate M. Graydon
Can I not hope to hear from you sometime?
00872
[1]
INDIANAPOLIS
Dec. 12th, 1879. 232 N. Alabama St.
Dear Mr. Muir, -
For two or three years I have thought often of writing to you, indeed, I went so far once as to get your direction & commence a letter. I will now send a few lines introducing to you Prof. Jordan, one of my teachers & best friends. I send this with a little quaking of the heart. What if you should ask “Who is Kate Graydon”? Still I have faith that even ten or twelve years have not obliterated the pleasant little friendship formed
[Page 2]
[2]
one summer so long ago. The remembrance on my part was wonderfully quickened one morning nearly two years ago, when Prof. Jordan read to our class the sweetest, brightest, most musical article on the “Water Ouzel” from Scribner. The writer, he said, was John Muir. The way my acquaintance of long ago developed into friendship, & the way I proudly said I knew you, would have made you laugh. What shall I say of your articles? They are as refreshing as I imagine a sea breeze or the mountain air to be. We have all read & re-read them, & have
[3]
wished to see you. [underlined: Do] come back, & come soon. Can’t you come next summer? Why, we have all grown out of your knowledge. The three children you knew best — the ones who long ago in the dark room delighted to read to & bring you flowers – are now men & women. Merrill is a young lawyer, with all sorts of aspirations. Janet is at home, a young lady of leisure. Your “little friend Katie” is teacher in a fashionable boarding school, which, I know is not much of recommendation to a man who turns his eyes away from all flowers but the wild rose & the sweet brier. Prof. Jordan anticipates pleasure in your acquaintance, & I am sure each will enjoy the other.
Location
Indianapolis, [Ind]
Date Original
1879 Dec 12
Source
Original letter dimensions: 19.5 x 29.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Graydon, Kate M., "Letter from Kate M. Graydon to John Muir, 1879 Dec 12." (1879). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 508.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/508
Resource Identifier
muir03_1181-md-1.pdf
File Identifier
Reel 03, Image 1180
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
