The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-03-03
PASSES DAY
WITH NOTED
NATURALIST
DIR. E. s. coodhue, Writing from
San Francisco Recounts Expert
encc During Visit to Home Of
John Muir, Hidden in Green
Hills Overlooking Bay Back of
Richmond.
tPy =, s. Goodhpe.)


~ anoyefy,glad you are coming TO
see me this week. I'm sure to be at
home-jnst recovering from an attack
Of miserable grippe that has held me
prisoner in my lonely library here more
than month. Come BY the Santa Fe
to Muir Station, which is only a short
walk from my house."
Across the bay to Richmond and
through some lovely green hills, we
found ourselves at MUIR, little flag
station not over ten minutes walk
from the naturalist home. This was
pointed out to us by a lad who told us
to "walk around the first bend, then
90 by aswlfite horse, turn again to left,
then follow road TO brown house on
hill. y
From an iron gate we walked up a
path TO a large tSo-story house well
surrounded by beautiful trees and
Greeted by John Muir.
We rang the old-fashioned door bell
twice, when John Muir opened the door
and greeted us, having come downstairs
from his "den,N pale, frail and much
weakened by his recent illness.
But the keen, clear light Of him
burned in his eye, and his handshake
was close and expressive. His dress,
careless as ever; whitened hair and
beard rather long, and a voice musical,
giving only a slight hint of Scotland in
the sound Of some letters.
Z There are many rooms in the large,
rambling house, most of them only
partly furnished. In the front room
are paintings which the owner pointed
out and explained to us: Yosemite, -
by Keith, the Muir Glacier and scenes
in High Sferras ty famous artists given
to Mr.. Muir out of an abundant and al.
miring affection. b. "
Then We went upstairs to the "Den. :"
Here was ehaos--an elemental treasure
house; hooks, portraits. autograph let
tiers from the great of all times. Photo.
graphs of Roosevelt John Burroughs,
wallace, with evidence of their deep
friendship for the author. .'.... -
A cheerful fire burned on the hearth.
and sheets OF neatly typewritten manu-.
script lay strewn about. aat
What "A privilege il WAS 10 have the
dear old man talk to .lIs about himself.
his home, his travels, books and
friends! 49,. H-T, -
How he went down into the South
American forests in search of one mar
ticular species of tree and found for.
est OF II; of the wonderful Amazon.
" When l got through here, he said.
with a twinkle in his eve, al had $4,000
left and felt that must use IL. 40 /
took a boat for Africa and came home
by way of Honolulu.o fE
There he met Professor Alexander.
whom be remembered, ,' .II 's- =.
Memory Is Unimpaired.
Mr.. Muir's memory is unimpaired.
Being precise as to names, dates and
even uneventful matters. IT,
lie lives alone, his wife having died
several years ago, while his only chill.
dren, two daughters, are married and IN
homes of their own. -, -
On the wall near his desk il the
drawing of an invention Of his renro.
dueed in his recent book t'The story
of My Boyhood.' uas.....- -
~ was really a wonderful piece of
work. = drew that myself, y he soid
to us as he described it with boyisb
pride, "a pretty good piece of draw
We talked of common friend whom
we had both known and loved for near.
~ twenty Bradford Toney: Of
his death at Santa Barbara recently.
"Oh, fine soul, - exclaimed Mr.. Muir
Twenty Of his books are on nv
shelves and letters we prize, the last re. !
eelyed only short while before the
blrdloyer died. While in Santa Bar
bara two years ago we renewed our
friendship, and il has been my good
fortune to become the possessor of part
OF his private library.
When we spoke of Hetch, II etchy and
the recent passage of the bill granting
this valley TO San Francisco as a water
reserve, Mr., Muir flashed In anger, and
a fine fire lighted up his beautiful face.
fes,l he said, "and they have TIM. |
Ineled their Legislature with lies to get
this bin through"
One could not help feeling the SINGER.
ity and love of this poet for Gods
great outdoors. With nnsullied instinet
he worahiia Nature, talklngIo only part |
Of the glowihg thought which rises
within him. t -
have material for seventy-Rye
books,P' he said to me.
u was getting dark and / told our
cordial host we must 90.
me- no." he said, gently, placing
his arm on my shoulder, mot yet. You
Fan stay and yet catch your train. .
Arms Filled With Treasures.
Then he went to pile of books with
temporary covers, asking me If had
This one and that one. Unfortunately
had TO answer in the affirmative for
most of them, but in several he in,
''ccribed my name with loving dedica,
lion, and we came home with our arms
full, running across the fields in order
TO get our train. .#.' Z.
Mr.. Muir looked so frail, | asked him
rot TO conre downstairs, but he would,
opening the door and walking through
me grounds with us as he described
some speeial tree or shrub.
- should not have built this sort of |
house" he said, looking back, "it