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Dowagiac,Mich., Sept. 1882 My dear friend J. Muir: Permit me to trouble your eyes once more with one of my scrawls.I
want to say I was more than pleased in the perusal of your exceedingly interesting letter Aug. 24. I can't help it, old as
I am. Such representation of natural scenery and glacial action fills me With a sort of visionary enthusiasm and sends me
kiting in mind, trying to see and make faith a substance.So I imagine those great fields of inclined planes of ice are after
me just ready to throw off a small mountain of ice. My boat must be away in the distance in safety.Then what an artillery
to listen to - second guns, or rather minute reports of the ice artillery. I rec'd your letter while on a visit to Niles.
Showed it to an intelligent and wealthy man. Said he, I must have his book as soon as published. I am using your letter as
an advertisement. It is singular how many I find read it with as much enthusiasm, as I claim they can't help it.One gentleman
visiting here from Chicago (was a col. in the late evil war of ours) sat right down and wrote' to the Sec. of the Navy for
your report. I presume it will be printed in the Naval Reports. I Shall go to Detroit and Chicago. I presume you have no objections
to my using your letter for good purposes. I am intimate with the editors in Detroit and some in Chicago.I haven't a doubt
your books will sell like 'hot cakes.' O that I could see one I write all this rigmarole to encourage you to hasten its birth
into the world, and would like to give, if I could, a little ergot to help it along in its birth. I noticed in reading B.F.Taylor's
description of Yosemite Valley he says the altitude of the rocks are reckoned above the sea level. I had always supposed they
were reckoned above the Valley. The Valley itself, I was told, was 5 to 7000 feet above the sea level. Am I right? I won't
ask for a letter, but if you please put it on a postal - am I right? I often picture to myself your critical and dangerous
position when on your trip to the Summit of Mt. Ly illegible ? when you came to a deadlock abreast a perpendicular bank of
ice, when for a moment your heart failed -for a moment. Then came the Divine to your rescue. A new heart and wise step, new
force of life - saved Don't forget that in your book.I thank you most heartily for your letters. As you intimate, we may never
see each other again in this world.It is a delightful, joyful thought that we will see each other in the spirit world.May
we not become explorers in this grand universe - wonders and such a variety that it will occupy an eternity to observe them?
You may laugh at my visions - all right. I am quite willing in that spirit world to follow you in the observance and study
of all. these - mysteries to me now - then as easily understood as the glaciers at Alaska were to your vision. Please excuse
this sheet of wild-goose-fairies' flights if so it irks (to) you.Please remember me to Miss Wanda and her mother. Truly
ever your enthusiastic friend, N. D. Stebbins