Title:
Letter from John Muir to Louie [Strentzel Muir], [1890] Jul 7.
Creator:
John Muir
Publisher:
University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies
of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Contributor:
Louie [Strentzel Muir]
Date:
[1890] Jul 7
2008
Type:
Text
Format:
Image/jpeg2000
Identifier:
muir06_0556-md-1
Source:
Original letter dimensions: 33 x 21.5 cm.
Language:
eng
Coverage:
Glacier Bay…[Alaska]
Rights:
Copyrighted
The unpublished works of John Muir are copyrighted by the Muir-Hanna Trust. To purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission
to publish or exhibit them, see
http://library.pacific.edu/ha/forms
Muir-Hanna Trust
1984
Transcription:
To Mrs. Muir Glacier Bay, Camp near eastern end of ice wall July 7th 1890 Dear Louie: The steamer Queen is in sight
pushing up Muir Inlet through a grand crowd of bergs on which a clear sun is shining. I hope to get a letter from you to hear
how you and the little ones and older ones are. I have had a good instructive and exciting time since last I wrote you by
the Elder a week ago. The weather has been fine and I have climbed two mountains that gave grand general views of the immense
mountain fountains of the glacier and also of the noble St. Elias Range along the coast mountains, La Perouse, Crillon, Lituya,
and Fairweather. Have got some telling facts on the forest question that has so puzzled me these manyyears, etc., etc. Have
also been making preliminary observations on the motion of the glacier. Loomis and I get on well, and the Reid and Cushing
party camped beside us are fine company and energetic workers. They are making a map of the Muir Glacier and Inlet, and intend
to make careful and elaborate measurements of its rate of motion, size, etc. They are well supplied with instruments and will
no doubt do good work. I have yet to make a trip round Glacier Bay, to the edge of the forest and over the glacier as far
as I can. Probably Reid and Cushing and their companions may go with me. If this weather holds I shall not encounter serious
trouble. Anyhow I shall do the best I can. I mean to sew the bear skin into a bag, also a blanket and a canvas sheet for the
outside. Then, like one of Wanda's caterpillars, I can lie warm on the ice when night overtakes me, or storms rather, for
here there is now no night. My cough has gone and my appetite has come, and I feel much better than when I left home. Love
to each and all. If I have time before the steamer leaves I will write to my dear Wanda and Helen. The crowd of visitors
are gazing at the grand blue crystal wall, tinged with sunshine. Ever thine, J.M. 1. Professor Harry Fielding Reid