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Knoxville, Term., Sep. 30.1898. Dear Louie. We arrived here by train an hour ago. 10 P.M.. and have just had supper.
We came direct from Ashville and Biltmore, where we spent three days and had a grand time driving and walking over the Biltmore
estate, royally entertained by the superintendents. The views, hilly and mountainous, are superb, but the forests are far
inferior to those we passed through for 75 miles between Roan Mountain and Lenoir, and as for Vanderbilt's magnificent chateau
and drives, I soon tired of them. We are now in Grandma's country, Tennessee, and here for the first time on this journey
I have struck my track of 32 years ago when I wandered a thousand miles alone through this south country under very different
auspices. Canby is jolly and kind as can be, and so is Sargent. I'm learning a good deal about the 40 or 50 forest trees hereabouts,
and am now quite well -- better than when I left home, though when I reached Boston and for three or four days after I was
miserably sick and feared I would have to give up traveling and go to bed -- cold, dysentery, and extreme weakness and nervousness.
I have scrawled you and the children a line from time to time, though I dare say you could hardly read them or make sense
of them. This morning I corrected proof of animal article for the Atlantic- - the first time my head has been clear enough
for such work. Canby and Sargent have gone to bed, and we have to get up early tomorrow morning to take the train for Chattanooga.
Thence we go to Rome, Georgia, for a few days botanizing. I long to hear from you to know you are all well. It seems a year
since I left home. Prom Rome we go to Alabama, thence to Lexington, Kentucky, and thence back to New York. Have letters there
and at Boston or Brookline. Sargent has so much laid out for me when we get to Boston that he says I'll not get home before
Christmas, but I must. Love to all. Helen and Wanda darlings, I'll write tomorrow if I can, and telegraph also. Love to Maggie.
JOHN MUIR Envelope addressed Mrs. John Muir, Martinez, California, Postmarked Knoxville, Oct.1, 1898, 8 A.M . 43 02476