Transcription:
4 It happens that I am just now engaged in preparing a prospectus of the magazine's contents for next year--a task that
presents itself always at this season. I should like to say in this prospectus that the Atlantic will publish in the first
half of the year such a series by you. I am indeed going immediately to write out such an announcement, and I shall keep it
on my desk till I hear from you. Then, when you send your consent, I shall at once give it to the printers and let the publishers
announce it. And I am going to trouble you since it is a long way to California, to telegraph me at our expense when you receive
this letter, a message giving your consent. Your own terms, within the reasonable and possible limits of the magazine and
of the book-publishing plan, too, will meet the approval of the publishers. Very sincerely yours, Walter H. Page. John
Muir Esq. P.S. I have announced and am now expecting the article on some of the National Parks. letterhead 3 in the
January number and publish an article a month till you have finished them all? That would carry us into the summer and by
the time the last magazine article appeared the book could be put forth. If the book be brought out next summer, it would
appear at a very advantageous time. Everybody who does not go to Alaska next Summer will wish at least to read about it.
I sincerely hope that this plan will commend itself to you. That it will be a fortunate stroke for the Atlantic Monthly I
need not say: indeed I know of nothing that I should value more. That it will put your work in appropriate and (in the book
form) in deserving and proper shape, I cannot insist too strongly. 02345