Transcription:
December 1, 1913. Mr. John Muir, Martinez, California. My dear Mr, Muir:- Your valued favor of November 22nd is received,
and I take pleasure in mailing to you a copy of the book referred to. I was almost tempted to wait a week or two, at which
time I would have been able to mail you a copy of the second edition, but that is not material. I do, however, enclose with
the book a Foreword with my picture sent as a proof, and it is the only material change to be made. If you have a copy of
one of your books which you could conveniently mail to me with your signature in it, I would highly appreciate it, chiefly
because of the signature, and will promptly remit for the same. I remember reading your book, Our National Parks , but do
not think I have any in my library except your last book on your Boyhood Bays In Wisconsin ; so either book would serve my
purpose. My impression is that you were born in 1838, and if so, are a year older than I am. Charles Birge, to whom you
refer, was my cousin and died many years ago in Iowa, leaving a widow still in Whitewater and a son, who is now an architect
in New York City. Pitt Cravath, as you may have learned, committed suicide in a dramatic manner at his home in Whitewater
many years ago. He shut himself in a tight room and, I believe, started a charcoal fire and remained until poisoned with the
gases, and during the time that this process was going on wrote as long as possible concerning05321