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Dowagiac, Mich., June 6, '84. My greatly respected friend John Muir, It is true that I am still in the land of the living.
I imagined yon might be curious to know just so much, as worthless as it is to know it. An old man, past 82 years, quite infirm
and becoming blind with all. Still memory keeps me jogging along in the journey of thought, and how often has memory jogged
me back to Yosemite Valley and the little or short, but exceedingly pleasant interviews I had with you and our conversations
in regard to glacier action which gave such strong evidences of its workings in that wonderful ca on that dropt down when
the upheaval took place . Do you recollect when you climbed out and up through the Indian ca on and as you got along to Yosemite
falls then you made a prayer for wisdom, on one Sunday The result was that you found the evidences of glaciers' works in front
of you and settled with me the enigma how the Indian Ca on came to exist, as there was no appearance of a water course ever
having passed through it. Well I remember somewhat that which I have read in the Overland Monthly of your theory of mountain
structure, etc., etc. since some of your experiences with grand-father glaciers, such that those in Switzerland are mere babies--all
these hints through the common channel of information, newspapers. Now let me say all these helps have disappeared. When I
went to Cal. the last time I left the Overland Monthly with a young friend who died before my return. They are lost and of
course the newspapers containing your exploits and scientific theories and investigations. Even the story when you came abreast
of ice impossible to pass and forbid ding your return, when all hope seemed for a time to be gone. Then a sudden inspiration
-- truly from your God and Saviour -- helped you over the dangerous precipice in safety. I presume you have never forgotten
that escape from that narrow and dangerous trip to the head of one of the ice-fields on Mt. (the name has passed out of my
mind at this moment). Are you wondering at what I am driving? In short do you mean that all this knowledge and experience
shall be lost to the world? I have consoled myself after losing all that I have seen of your written travels and discoveries
that some day you would publish or have one published that would give to the world a complete history of your travels and
discoveries and theory of mountain structure, glacier action in cutting out those tremendous ca ons along the Sierras, especially
Yosemite; and still glaciers discovered by yourself. What are you going to let all this thrilling experience and knowledge
be lost Now for the animus of this scrawl of a letter. I have been waiting many years to see your book on mountain structure,
glaciers, and glacier action and your marvelous exploits and escapes doing justice to your God and His watchful care over
you. That book I have not heard was in print Must I die and all the world with me, ignorant as a world, while a few friends
are permitted to know a little -- must it all go into forgetfulness? Now I am quite blind -- can just see these lines I am
writing upon with good glasses; still I covet that book on mountain structure and glaciers and glacier action. Must I die
never having seen it? If you can find a Dr. Jones, M.D., who formerly practiced medicine in Murphys about 14 miles from the
Calaveras Trees in Calaveras Co., a few miles from Table Mountain, who lives now, if alive, in San Francisco, he can tell
you all about Whitney's wonderful Calaveras Skull . Dr. Jones told ma that he had often heard the miners tell the story and
laugh over the trick they played upon Prof. Whitney in pretending that that skull was found among the gravel diggings under
Table Mountain. Whitney didn't make the discovery of glaciers and glacier action on the Pacific slope, and don't you let him
steal it from you -- nor LeConte. You owe it to yourself and your friends and the little daughter I hear you have and future
generations of yours to have them know who made these scientific discoveries. If I was the means of Dr. Carr's getting you
an opportunity to write for the Overland Monthly, let me be now the means in some measure to have a book given to the world
such as will do you justice and go down to the end of time with other scientific adventures. (My eyes are badly eclipsed just
now). Now, my greatly esteemed friend, do yourself the justice to give the world your knowledge expression, -theory of mountain
structure and glacier action, etc., etc. I covet seeing it before I go never to be any more in this life. Hoping to meet you
in Heaven where our dear Lord and Saviour is the great centre of all creation and will be eternally, I am ever truly your
attached friend. I will enclose my photo for Miss Wanda , with warmest regards for yourself and Mrs. Muir and the little cherub
Miss Wanda. N.D. Stebbins. P.S. I had a postal from Mrs. Carr, saying she had been ill. May she live many years to bless
the world with her whole-souled, graceful, loving, good-willing, marvelous soul and body.