Letter from Rufus B. Kellogg to [John Muir], 1873 May 24.

• Main Author: Kellogg, Rufus B
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Scholarly Commons 1873
• Subjects: John Muir; correspondence; letters; author; writing; naturalist; California; correspondent; mail; message; post; exchange of letters; missive; notes; epistle; Lyell Glacier
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmcl/12789; https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/context/jmcl/article/37723/type/native/viewcontent/fullsize.jpg

[Original letter in possession of Sarah Muir Galloway]Oshkosh, wis., May 24, 1873,Dear Sir:I enclose you a few seed from the great Cypress trees growing about the Castle of Chepultepec, two miles from the City of Mexico. The largest of these is thirteen feet in diameter, and its branches droop as gracefully as the elm.Chepul tepee was the favorite resort of the Emperor Montezuma, and he doubtless many a time reposed under these grand old trees.Seed should be planted in the mellow ground of the garden, where they will have moisture and not be exposed to the mid-day sun.Respectfully,Rufus B. Kellogg (Following letter on reverse side of letter above]Yosemite Valley, May 30th, 1873.Dear Sister Sarah:Here are a few seeds sent me which I think you may try in your garden. You are fond of relics and oddities, therefore I send these to you.I mean to start tomorrow for the summits. Will perhaps climb Mt. Dana. It is yet deeply snow-clad, but I will hurry back here in a few days to the flowers and sunshine.Farewell,John M.Love to the childrenJune 7th.Home again after a hard 6 days' walk to the top of Mt. Lyell 13,200 ft. high. My face is badly scorched with sunshine reflected from the glacier. Arrived last night, camped the previous night in snow five feet deep, and came down among the birds and flowers and green groves of the Valley in a few hours.The ice of the Lyell glacier is about 700 feet thick, as near as I can guess, and at present is covered with snow 15 feet deep.Here is a wee spray of the graceful spruce, Abies Hookeriana, which grows at elevations of from 9 to 11,000 feet. Penstemon Menzesii, for Anna from a plant I brought down from the mountainside yesterday which had about 300 flowers. It is now in my window half-filling it with royal purple.Your last with Cecilia's photograph and the Scotland paper are received. The picture is very pretty. I took it to be Annie's. The photo of myself that I sent to David was intended for you. I 'm sorry to hear of poor Jamie Reid.[John Muir] ...