Creator
Annie K[ennedy] Bidwell
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[4]
the greater number would have omitted the “roughing”, which is the spirit of it, as only thus can the loveliest be seen. They spoke warmly of you, & rehearsed your sayings and doings until it seemed almost as if you were present. That grand illumination you gave us of the Silver firs, was admired to even your heart’s content, if Dr Gray did teaze you about it at the time! I received a precious little package of flowers from E. O. Pelton, Brownsville Yuba Co, a few days since. So some of the flowers were those promised me by Miss Peltham, I conclude Miss Peltham is Pelton, and I am mistaken in thinking you called her “Sarah”, and did not understand her name, when thinking it Peltham. I have written E. O. Pelton as if she really is the same I know. Hope it is not a mistake. Remember me cordially to Mrs Muir, whom I trust soon to meet. Can you not arrange to visit us this spring? [illegible], & believe me, as Ever, Yours Truly A.K.B.
[at top page 1: P.S. This was not mailed o[illegible] to news recd of the dying of Henry Bidwell; and afterward because of the illness & death of Mrs Kennedy’s father. Dr Wayland was buried Wednesday of this week. Was ill two weeks with Pneumonia.
Annie K. Bidwell]
[1]
Rancho Chico Dec. 4th 1880
Dear Mr Muir.
I owe you many apologies for not having returned you the pamphlet you so kindly lent me “for six months”, and not thanking you for the one so kindly sent me the past Summer, during my visit East. I was very sick before going East and could not then write you, and all Summer I hoped for time, but it came not, so many visits and calls had to be made. Mamma and I spent six weeks traveling! We visited Cape May, Newport, Boston, Pittsfield, Saratoga, Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Meadville [(Penna.)?] Lake George, and Ellenville N.Y. The latter place had been unknown to us, even by name, until we visited a dear friend there; so were amazed at the grand scenery, elegant drives, & delightful air. It is in sight of the Catskill Mount-
[Page 2]
[2]
ains, (and “its spurs”, the Indian name of which I can not recall) and near Lake Minnewaska, a gem indeed. When we meet I will tell you all about it — this region — for it was to us the grandest we saw in our travels. We visited the Grays at Cambridge. That is, we spent one day from two o’clock, until eight in the evening, and the next day took tea with them, and attended the Academy of Sciences lecture in the evening, under their care. So we has delightful time with them. Mrs Gray wrote me to make them a visit but as they were to start in little over a week for Europe I would not do so, though Dr and Mrs Gray were both very earnest. So we remained in Boston and went
00961
[3]
to Cambridge when we could. Mrs Gray gave a grand garden tea party to the Academy of Sciences; but very singularly the weather changed suddenly from “suffocatingly warm” to as cold as San Francisco, & I almost felt as if in that city. Doctor Gray gave a most interesting lecture on the flora of the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, to those of the “Academy” who cared to leave the grounds to hear it. Of this also I will tell you when we meet, and you will be amused at what he said of “Eriogonum!! But the great delight of Dr & Mrs Gray was to rehearse to their friends our camping experience, and nothing seemed to be forgotten. This, especially at dinner, where all expressed great desire to enjoy similar experience. I am not so sure, however, that
Location
Rancho Chico, [Calif]
Date Original
1880 Dec 4
Source
Original letter dimensions: 18 x 23 cm.
Recommended Citation
Bidwell, Annie Kennedy, "Letter from Annie K[ennedy] Bidwell to John Muir, 1880 Dec 4." (1880). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 593.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/593
Resource Identifier
muir04_0371-md-1.pdf
File Identifier
Reel 04, Image 0370
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
