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Show 209, willingness to make certain concessions in order to reach his audience. But one cannot help noticing that Muir's tone had become slightly satirical. MODERATION Muir still had little faith that anyone would want to hear his gospel. Even a man like Emerson, for whom he had great expectations, was a terrible disappointment. When the great Transcendental is t visited Yosemite in May of 1871, Muir failed to spirit him away from his eastern entourage. Emerson's friends, to judge by their recollections, thought that Muir was an amusing figure, perhaps slightly laughable. They thought it was absurd that The Sage would want to go camping with a young enthusiast. If Muir hoped that Yosemite would be enough to transform this sophisticated group, he was shocked to discover how little Nature affected them. "I felt lonely, so sure had I been that Emerson of all men would be the quickest to see the mountains and sing'them," he said later. Worse, Emerson suggested that Muir come to New England where he could meet "better people," thus allying himself with other influential people who seemed intent on encouraging Muir to pursue writing by leaving the mountains for civilization. Their message was obvious enough; they wanted to enforce a civilizing influence on Muir, one that they suspected was badly needed. No wonder he was hesitant to begin a career as a writer. He did not seek a ticket out, an escape from the |
