Existing comment:
Friends of Muir: John Swett:
"Write as you talk. Stop revising so much. You make your style so slippery a man can't stand on it."
-- Swett to Muir
Muir was introduced to Swett after moving into San Francisco looking to start his writing career. The young principal had just spent years in Sacramento as superintendent of public instruction and had achieved a great deal of fame for fathering the public education system in California. He and his wife took Muir in as a boarder for five years and welcomed him into their family.
The Swetts helped Muir throughout his career. Ever the storyteller, Muir would tell stories to the Swett's children, who called Muir "Uncle John." It was Mary Swett, John Swett's wife, who encouraged Muir to publish some of these stories. Later, Swett's experience with politics in Sacramento would help Muir with his own forays into political lobbying. But most of all, the two were close friends, and after Muir moved out to Martinez, Swett and his family followed and purchased land right next to the Muir ranch. |