Letter from John Howitt to John Muir, 1904 Feb 2.

4to one I wrote to you to Portage inviting you to visit us here. You stated that my letter was forwarded to Portage thence to New York thence to Martinez. How I have regretted I did not see you at that time, you will recollect I called on you when I was in California at Prof Sweat\u27s home in San Francisco some where about 1888. I was Co Supt of Schools for eleven years here and at that time I recommended the teachers to read Prof. Sweats work on Theory and Practice. At that time I never thought I would have the pleasure of meeting you at the Profr\u27s home.[1]219 Grand Ave.Waukesha, Wis.,Feb. 2, 1904.My dear Mr. Muir.I would like to see you very much once more. I came across your letters written 1896 among my papers today and I determined to write to you without delay. In one you said we would talk over our early school days & the03338 2early experiences and results in this fine world . Yes it is a most beautiful world and a person cannot comprehend it unless they study it from a naturalist\u27s standpoint. You stated you had just got home after a long and eventful summer, traveling through our grand western forests with the U. S. Forestery Commission; [examining?] specially the condition & wants you stated your tour of 3inspection extended through the Black Hills, Yellowstone Park; Forests of Montana Oregon Washington, Idaho and Alaska, & Grand Canyon of Colorado etc. Knowing your fondness of nature I can appreciate somewhat of the pleasure and appreciation which you enjoyed in your ardious and fatiguing labors- I recollect of receiving another letter from you after the time of your dear mother\u27s death. It was in answer 6write a sketch of your life doings, explorations etc as he would like to have it printed in his news paper. I saw him a short time ago and he still insisted on me making some statements as he knew we were familiar I told him I had lost the datas best I would be pleased to so if I could get an outline from you I did have your work mountains of Cal. trip to alaska and some other writings and they were read by friends and they appreciated them so highly I was just so foolish as to part with them. Seven years ago I had seven7cousins from Melbourne, Aus. (a cousin, wife, two daughters, two sons and a maiden cousin) on a trip around the world they took the last I had I think your trip to Alaska. If I recollect in one letter you state that after the forest commission reported you would send me a copy of the proceedings etc.; but so far I have not received it I know it would be very interesting. Please give my kindest regards to your brother David as you will recollect I used to go across the hall at the University and enjoy a good visit you both. Happy days. 8Our winter has been very severe. It has not thawed any to speak of since the middle of November. How our old friends of our university days has passed away and It will be only a short time that we will be answer the summons come up higher I have prepared a place for you what consolations the Christian has through this life and an assurance of the future. With much love to your bro. and to you I am everYoursJohn Howitt[in margin: 650][5]I am still living in Waukesha and our floursing mills & saw mills at Mukwonago eleven miles south of here on the Wis. Central R R. Mr. Griswold and J. N. Stewart our old friends at the university I meet quite often and very seldom we meet but we speak of the university and most especially of you as we were all interested in you Mr. Griswold is probate judge in this county and Mr. Stewart is editor on the Milwaukee Journal. While in New York I received a letter from Mr. Stewart asking me if I0333