Creator
Louie Strentzel Muir
Recipient
Robert Underwood Johnson
Transcription
Please command me if I can serve you during Mr. Muir’s absence in any way. June 25, 1893 Address The Players, 16 Gramercy Park. The Century [ ] Union Sq. [Square] N.Y. [New York] Dear Mrs. Muir: I am very glad to sat that Mr. Muir could not have had a better day for sailing than was [vouchsafed] to the [Etruria] yesterday. I went to the Steamer with him and saw that he did not leave her at the last moment. I introduced him from my place on the dock to my friend MacMonnies who was standing near him and he also had a letter to Mr. Seton have one of our English contributors who has been in Alaska. MacMonnies you know is the sculptor of the great fountain—“The Triumph of Columbia” at the World’s Fair. His wife was with him is a painter and has done some decoration in the Woman’s Building at Chicago. So your husband was not without friendly companions for the voyage. I parted with him with great regret—only sorry that I could not go with him, as any [other] year I might have done. He has told you of our [numerous] jaunts together. He had met all of the Country people, has been to the clubs and seen many literary and some scientific folk: but he has not told you what I properly may how greatly delighted everyone was to know him. I have a note from Mrs. James T. Fields whom we went to see at Manchester near Boston saying how much she enjoyed our four hour visit and how disappointed Ms. Agassiz was to miss him. The Sargents spoke to me over and over of the pleasure his visit gave them, and so have others. What I now have been urging upon him is to put into permanent form the records of his study and ramblings. He ought to have at least two volumes of “Sierra Tramps” or “Sierra Studies”, by simply collecting and revising what he has printed in the magazines. Indeed I have already given him a set of these articles, so for as the Century is concerned, and he is going over them with such publication in view. Then he ought to have a popular volume on Alaska and then two or three scientific volumes on both Alaska and the Sierra. His place in American Literature will then be secure. I have given him letters of introduction to three Scotchmen: Prof. Bryce of the British Cabinet—a mountain climber and author of “The American Commonwealth” (The best book on our political system): David [Douglas] the publisher in Edinburgh, friend of all [ ] men and a charming man; and Mr. Allen of Elgin, a lover of America who is most hospitable and intelligent. I inclose your husbands address. He will go first to [Scotland] England he thinks, but little [mile] reach him? I’ve told him to go first to London as the season ends there August 1 and everybody leaves, whereas August is the time find people at home in Scotland. I shall forward your letters to him (if any come) to London. I need hardly say that Mr. Muir was in excellent health while here. We all suffered with the heat last week but have had two or three days of exquisite cool weather. Nothing dampens his spirits however. I wish I had been so situated as to have him visit us at home but we were all torn [ ] preparation to a change of residence. Perhaps we may be in the new house by the time he returns. Mrs. Johnson and my children greatly enjoyed seeing Mr. Muir and look forward to his return. He was gratified to learn of Helen’s good health just before leaving and to her letters from you and the children! I am sure this outing will be of great service to his health and add years to his life. He went well prepared for the sea voyage and by the time this reaches you you will have noted in the shipping news of your San Francisco paper the safe arrival at Liverpool of the good ship [Etruria.] I am indeed, my dear Mrs. Muir, very sincerely yours R. U. Johnson
Location
New York, NY
Date Original
1893-06-25
Source
Original letter dimensions unknown.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Robert Underwood, "Letter from R[obert] U[nderwood] Johnson to Mrs. Muir [Louie Strentzel Muir], 1893 Jun 25" (1893). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 6733.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/6733
Resource Identifier
1893 Jun 25 RU Johnson to Mrs Muir
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
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
8 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
