Creator

John Muir

Creator

John Muir

Recipient

[Charlotte H.] Kellogg

Transcription

Surely nothing in the golden coronation glory over the sea could surpass it in uncontrolable fraternal alma mater gladness and loyalty.The next memorable morning we donned our academic robes and marched to the great hall where the degrees were conferred. I had perhaps the best seat on the platform, and when my name was called, I arose with a grand air befitting the occasion shook my academic plumes into finest fluting folds & stepped forward in awful majesty and stood rigid serene and solemn as an ancient Sequoia while the orator poured praise on the honored wanderer's head.And I think I had better leave the wanderer in this heroic attitude.With love to you friends three I am ever faithfully affectionatelyJohn Muir[in margin: Address 850 Madison AvenueNew York City]N. Y.June 27 1911 -My dear dear Mrs Kellogg.In re re reading your charming letter of May 25th telling in such sprightly witty triumphant style your happy mothery housekeeping I always feel that you are working too hard. I know that mother-love radium can work miracles just as Nature love radium of the Scotch Kind lifts mountaineers bodies with only crumbs of bread to the highest summits as if they were light as thistledown.But somehow I always feel that those I love most should have good rest and good substantial meaty nourishment and avoid

2exhausting work.No doubt you have food enough but too much work and care with too little rest. Pray be kind and pitiful to yourself but watch Jean's gums and lance them if necessary.I've been this side the continent two months, have done lots of National Park work at Washington and book work here and in Boston wildly interrupted by endless dinners, lionizing etc. Am now trying to hide in Prof Osborn's log writing den in a hickory grove to finish a Yosemite book before leaving for S. America. Perhaps I told you that Yale wished to give me a degree, and as it was in great part for saving Gods parks I ventured to accept hoping this action might help to make public opinion for Yosemites3I went to New Haven on the morning of June 20th and was received and entertained with wonderful cordiality & taken to the ball game in the afternoon. Though at first a little nervous on account of the approaching degree ceremony, I quickly caught the glow of the Yale enthusiasm. Never before have I seen or heard anything just like it. The many alumni classes assembled from all the country were clad in wildly colored uniforms, and the way they capered and danced, sang and yelled, wheeled and doubled quadrupled octupled their flying ranks is utterly indescribable Autumn leaves in whirlwinds are staid and decorous in comparison.

Location

New York

Date Original

1911 Jun 27

Source

Original letter dimensions unknown.

Resource Identifier

muir20_0422-let.tif

File Identifier

Reel 20, Image 0422

Collection Identifier

Online finding aid for the microform version of the John Muir Correspondence http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0w1031nc

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

The Bancroft Library, University of California at Berkeley. 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

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