Creator
Francis F.Browne
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[4]Last Tuesday--the day before I left Pasadena--we had a memorable day in the mountains: Johnnie B., Dr. Clara, my daughter Susie, and myself. We took the ignominious street-car as far as it went--to Alpine Tavern; then went around Mt. Lowe and north four miles or so to San Gabriel Peak, just above the headwaters of the West Fork of San Gabriel River. We found snow, and for a couple of miles wallowed in it--wet and heavy, and sometimes a foot deep. Finally the drifts were too heavy to go further; so we melted snow and made coffee and had our lunch--which all enjoyed, although there was no mush.The scene was glorious--the West Fork valley before us; sparkling white mountains to the east, and a noble snow-clad range (I think Mt. Whitney may have been one of them) far off to the north while to the south seen directly over Mt. Lowe, spread west the sunlit Pacific.And while we all were silent in adoration, I said, "Nevermore, however weary, should one faint by the way who gains the blessing of one mountain day. Whatever his fate, long life, short life, stormy or calm, he is rich forever." And then we spoke of you; and our love of you Glen--with our love of the mountains, and of Nature in her loftiest and holiest aspects.Always yours,Francis F. Browne[1]Santa Barbara,March 19, 1911.My dear Mr. Muir:I had so hurried a flittin' from Pasadena last week, that I couldn't get over to your stormy Babylon to see you, and our dear Colonel Sellers gave little hope of getting you over to Pasadena. So I04979
[3]happy weeks with him in his quiet home under the noble oaks. He is solitary, and I fear lonely and unhappy there; and says he needs me. I shall at least be able to help him to "keep house"; and I know we shall have joy together. Would that you might come and forgather with us, as you did before! Perhaps you may, before my stay is over. "Three blither lads, the lee-long nights. Ye wad nae find in Christandee."[2]left without the handclasp and the parting word I would have been glad to have. But these are less - so less - than the consciousness of the bond of sympathy and affection between us. This I carry in my heart, and always shall.I am on my way to Melville Anderson, and hope to have some
Location
Santa Barbara [Calif.]
Date Original
1911 Mar 19
Source
Original letter dimensions: 17 x 27 cm.
Recommended Citation
Browne, Francis F., "Letter from Francis F.Browne to John Muir, 1911 Mar 19." (1911). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 6033.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/6033
Resource Identifier
muir20_0177-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 20, Image 0177
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
