Creator

Jeanne C. Carr

Creator

Jeanne C Carr

Recipient

Louie Strentzel Muir

Transcription

Sunday, [1880] Dear Louie: If you do not want the coming boy to have a stubborn will and an unloving disposition, yield to my entreaty, and make John bring you to Pasadena. I cannot bear to leave this place without yuour having seen it;and as I leave it; in its command of lovely views, and groupings of trees – unlike any other in California. I have forgotten whether you suffer from sea-sickness; if not, what a fine strengthener is the ocean breeze! I know how almost ridiculous this must sound when you rad it aloud to john – but if I have any advantage in experience over the ordinary woman, it is solely by virture of obeying the still small voice of nature or affection, or bot, ( as in this case.) My excellect one, I love and admire you more than ever, seeing you through such a complicated web of relationships, new and old. Do you not need to feel them, just for a little while, at a distance? I really suffer for a good exhaustive talk with you, about, just ourselves. I was captivated anew with the little valley in its vineyard greenery;and told my neighbors that I was never so near going back north to live, That new-born mite of womanity drew love from the innermost core of my heart, too. Strange is the interior law of our being, we do not know ourselves; but I think I would gladly make almost nay sacrifice of comfort to share Mrs. Swett’s loving care of Emily’s babe. In all my South California life I have never had the neighborly instinct as fully satisfied as it was in Oakland, with Mr. and Mrs. Moore and John LeConte and Ina [Coolbrith] almost in speaking distance; the McChesneys too, and others – and my love deepens as the years go by. There is a queer thing about my organic memory. When I think of your father, ever so casually, I see the twinkle of his eyes! When I think of John LeConte I always seem to hear his voice, though I retain no remembrance of what he says. John Muir, being yet a sharer in our lower life, raises his forefinger in enforcing an argument! And now I must stop, and write my love to all; when I will drop a line to Modjeska, telling her what the room she calls hers is vacant and ready at Carmelita. Do come, dear, devoted Louie, and remember that I am writing thus urgently under the impression that there is plenty of time to carry out this programme, and remain as prudent as is necessary. Lovingly ever, Jeanne C. Carr

Location

Unidentified

Circa Date

circa 1880

Source

Original letter dimensions unknown.

Resource Identifier

1880 No date Jeanne C Carr to Louie

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 https://www.pacific.edu/university-libraries/find/holt-atherton-special-collections/fees-and-forms-

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

1 page

Keywords

Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters

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