John Muir

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This classic photograph by Francis M. Fritz of John Muir shows the California conservationist in late life, seven years before his passing. Muir spent the majority of his years studying rocks, icebergs, forest and birds, and pressing successfully for the formation of national parks. A folksy story about him that was republished in the April 24, 1901 Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

“A writer in Ainslie’s Magazine tells this of John Muir:

John Muir, the mountain climber, is a fascinating companion. He abounds in fun and his talk is apt to become a monologue, as listeners grow too interested even for comment. He runs in a steady, sparkling stream of witty chat, charming reminiscences of famous men, of bears in the woods and red men in the mountains; of walks with Emerson, of tossing in a frail kayak on the storm-tossed waters of Alaskan floods. By turn he is a scientist, mountaineer, story-teller and light-hearted school boy.

Alhambra Valley, where he has a home of many broad acres, is a beautiful vale curled down in the lap of Contra Costa hills, sheltered from every wind that blows and warmed to the heart by the genial California sunlight. Here he dwells, a slender, grizzled man, worn-looking and appearing older than he is, for hard years among the mountains have told upon him.

It was a fair picture of peace and plenty under the soft, blue September sky. A stream ran close at hand, shaded by alders and sycamores and the sweet-scented wild willow. On the bank nearest us stood a solitary blue crane, surveying us fearlessly. A flock of quail made themselves heard in the undergrowth, and low above the vineyards a shrike flew, uttering his sharp cry. Noting him I said to Mr. Muir:

‘So you don’t kill even the butcher birds?’

He looked up, following the bird’s flight.

‘Why, no,’ he said, ‘they are not my birds.'”

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"He frequently talks of pistols, killing people, putting them under ground and other deeds of violence." (Image by Guillaume Duchenne.)

George Alger was an elderly Brooklyn landowner in the 1890s who was apparently a danger to himself and others. His household help was also quite unusual. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle painted a picture of the odd arrangement in the September 14, 1897 issue. An excerpt:

“With only a little girl 6 or 7 years of age and a one armed boy to look after him, George Alger, an old man and the owner of several pieces of real estate in Brooklyn and elsewhere. is living to-day at 184 Seventeenth street, despite the fact that there is a committee of his person who is supposed to look after him and see that he is properly cared for. Alger is an incompetent person, subject at times to fits of violence, and in the opinion of a referee who has recommended the sale of a portion of his property, should be confined in an institution.

Judge Hurd of the County Court handed down a decision to-day in which he severely condemns the manner in which Alger is allowed to live and points out the duties which ought to have been performed by the committee of his person.

Alger is a widower, his wife having died last April. The only relative he has is a sister, Mrs. Calista C. Gilbert, who resides in New Haven, Conn. Shortly after the death of Mrs. Alger, John Muir of 318 Twelfth street, was appointed a committee of the person and estate of the old man and since that time has administered his affairs.

Referee Elder in his report, recommended the sale for not less than $3,000 of a certain piece of property on Twelfth street, and the confinement of Alger in an institution, saying:

‘Mr. Muir’s committeeship, while careful, is necessarily one of almost an exclusive financial character. I learn that Mr. Alger at certain seasons of the year is a violent man and during all seasons of the year he frequently talks of pistols, killing people, putting them under ground and other deeds of violence. I do not think an insane man who indulges in such notions is safe at large. In passing upon the report of the referee, Justice Hurd said to-day:

‘There is sufficient shown to warrant the sale of the incompetent’s real estate. The committee is the committee of the person and estate; he is as much bound to provide suitable and proper support for the incompetent as he is to preserve his estate. He is bound to restrain Mr. Alger, if he is dangerous, as the referee reports, without the instruction of the court. The way in which the incompetent man is living–his meals cooked by a girl between 6 and 7 years of age, with a one-armed boy as attendant and messenger–is manifestly improper. The committee should correct it and see to it that a proper style of living is afforded. However disagreeable the committee may find his duties, he must nevertheless perform them for the best interest of his ward.'”

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