Creator
Penelope H. Bingenheimer
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[4]on the subject.I have a daughter Gertrude who, like me, loves nature, mountains and travel. She went to the Coast with me and would listen with delight to many passages from your Books.She said one day Mother I know why he wasn't afraid way up on that mountain because he was so full of Love for every teenty weenty thing" I helped her arrange her dool house a recent rainy morning. One room she hung with sea shells and eucalyptus buds and put a quaint little [Keepe?] man in possession. "Now she said Mother tha's my John Muir[1]1912MilwaukeeDear Mr MuirIs there not a saying to the effect that he who plants a tree needs no marble monument erected to his memory?Appropo of this I want to tell you that from the mountains I retain in my minds eye to the humblest native flower here in Wis everything in nature has grown dearer to me since reading your Books. I read "The Mountains of Cal." in April. Then "Our Nat'l Parks" and now have your latest book on the Yosemite05345
[2]I especially love the Mountains, and my longing for them was changed into gratitude that I had not been among them much before reading your book, on the Cal. Mts.I spent Oct and Nov. in San Francisco, but lived the trip over with delight through your pen. I have read some books on nature, but nothing that ever rang so true with Love as yours.I wonder if I could trouble you for the probable age of the largest Sequoia in Muir Woods?[3]I wrote your State Forester and he thought about 500 years. I feel according to your dimension and heights quoted of specimens that they must be older.Do you still hold to your theory that the Sequois attract the water courses? I noticed in a magazine this sumer an article from some one inquiring into the matter that their theory was that the water attracted the trees. in no ways was the article so weighty as your thoughts and research on
[in margin: on my books][5]room."I dared to address you, knowing the good we do returns to bless us. And it is yours to know the refreshment and joy your pen has given to we two, "who otherwise might have been sighing and wishing to go on the train, where you have first taken us in mind.
[6]The good your works must have done and will continue to do is inestimable.May I ask if you are related to the Muir family of Waukeshaw?Thank you, I remainSincerely yoursMrs. Penelope H. Bingenheimer59 - 33 S. F.05343
Location
Milwaukee [Wisc.]
Circa Date
[1912]
Source
Original letter dimensions: 16.5 x 26 cm.
Recommended Citation
Bingenheimer, Penelope H., "Letter from Penelope H. Bingenheimer to John Muir, [ca. 1912 ?]." (1912). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 6440.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/6440
Resource Identifier
muir20_1573-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 20, Image 1573
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
4 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
