Transcription:
1896 (Copied from fragment marked Y-13) making American trees and people and angels happy. And now do write him an encouraging
letter especially about the Harvard ceremonies and tell him he can go East and still be in time to see his ice rivers after
the snow is melted from their deadly crevasses. Also throw out hints about other books he ought to write. I think it will
be impossible to get him to give up his northern trip, for when he makes up his mind to go anywhere he always goes, but it
may well be shortened and so much gained. 2 that the eastern scholars and Harvard people in particular were always friendly
to him and were the first to say kind encouraging words(a wild nobody in the woods)about his work when he was pursuing his
wild solitary life in the woods and high mountains. But you must tell me particularly about the ceremonies connected with
the honorary degree. If a formal speech is required I fear he will belt like a frightened wild animal. When he meets professors
and college Presidents in an informal way he takes all the talk to himself and lectures them coolly with an(as if they were
only boys at the beginning of their studies)air of superior knowledge, but the slightest formality in the way of ceremony
frightens him dumb. If anyone can drag him to Harvard you can. He most sincerely admires you. He has said to me over and
over again that only Johnson could have fought the Copyright fight to a successful end,(God's trees in the Sierra)and only
Johnson could get government protection for the forests against general selfishness and apathy. (He should be President of
our big hopeful) (The above is written in Muir's handwriting, and appears to be composed by him, inasmuch as certain lines
have been ere seed out. These are copied and enclosed in parenthesis marks. The letter is evidently one written, or intended
to be written by some friend of Muir, to Robert Underwood Johnson) 02087