[4]sometime before spring we shall have the pleasure of welcoming at least a [illegible] [illegible] of the Muir family at 1919 - 16 St., I remain, with kindest regards to you all,a[illegible] yoursC. Hart MerriamJohn MuirMartinez, Calif.[1]WashingtonJan. 7, 1902My dear Mr. Muir:Yesterday the expressman brought to the Department of Agriculture a great California Santa Claus load for the Merriam-Bailey tribe, with a strong smell of Martinez surrounding it like a glorious halo. But as neither of us drink our wine or eat our nuts & raisins at the Department, we had to curb our appetites until we could pack the sacks and [illegible] the 2 1/2 miles to our houses. Then there was great rejoicing in the land and the voices of festive Merriams of various ages and assorted sizes might have heard by the hungry multitude outside. It would do your dry house good to hear the children praise the Muir nuts & raisins. No one can ever value them behind that any others are half so good - and the old folks are inclined to agree with them.02927 2/last week we had the biggest flood of scientific men ever known. No less than 21 scientific societies met here between Christmas and New Years, and the register shows that about 1350 persons came to the meetings. Many stayed to look around & see the sights, and some to do a little work, after the meeting, so we are hardly yet recovered. Tomorrow I go to New York and Brooklyn to lecture, as every little helps . Dr. Jordan was here yesterday. Have had hard luck with photographs since my return, not having found anyone who will make good prints. Am just trying 2 new men and hope for better results. As soon as I get a man who will do good work I will have your prints made. Please tell Helen we all are anxious to know which story she likes best and which she thinks funniest. The Merriam family is divided into 3 or 4 parts on this momentous question. My oldest boy, John C. Merrian of Berkeley,3/has been here some time studying his California [cane?] bones in comparison with specimens in our collections. About half are indistinguishable from living species (rabbits, foxes, bobcats, woodrats &c) while among the others are types as different as mast[illegible] & Arst[illegible] - and all from the same [cane?]! We hope that Mrs. Muir has shaken off the last of her rheumati[illegible], that Helen is not growing thin over the senerity of her professors, that Wanda has abstained from falling in love with this Philosopher , and that the serene dignity of the head of the Muir family will never again be led so far astray as to review another book. With [illegible]es of thanks from all the way up & down the Merriam family for the \u27interior decorations\u27 from California, and with continued deferred hopes tha
