John Muir Was Unashamed of His Emotions

"John Muir was unashamed of his emotions. An instance of this is told of him as he stood with an acquaintance at one of the great viewpoints of [a Western National Park], and, filled with wonder and devotion, wept. His companion, more solid than most, could not understand his feeling, and was so thoughtless as to say so. 'Mon,' said Muir, with the Scotch dialect into which he often lapsed, 'Can ye see unmoved the glory of the Almighty?' 'Oh, it's very fine,' was the reply, 'but I do not wear my heart upon my sleeve' 'Ah, my dear mon,' said Muir, 'in the face of such a scene as this, it's no time to be thinkin' o' where you wear your heart!'"

Robert Underwood Johnson 
Editor of "The Century Magazine," and Muir's friend
Recorded in "The Contemplative John Muir"

Photo: Cliff Paintbrush and Mount Rainier, Mt. Rainier National Park, WA
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