(1831-1904)
Explorer exemplar of grand beyond yonder unknown world,
Whose countless cultures, peoples, realms, treasures overseas she has uncovered: England, Scotland, Isle of Mull, born and bred, inhered and expired. Yet Canada, China, Hawaii, Persia, Korea adventured; America, India, Japan, Kashmir, Kurdistan scoured;
Isabella Lucy Bishop Bird,
Australia, Ireland, Vietnam, New Zealand entered;
As well as Ladakh, Malaya, Morocco, Hong Kong, Tibet, Yezo toured. Many mountains scaled, raging rivers forded, typhoons and snowstorms endured.
Climbed Hawaiian Volcanoes Kilauea, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa although burned, Rocky Mountains' Longs Peak, Hokkaido's Rebun, Mount Sinai, all conquered.
Through prime meridians, longitudes upon latitudes crossed and turned, Surveying sunrise east to sunset west ever encompassing horizons chartered, Thusly so, the Royal Order of Kapiolani and The Royal Geographical Society membership earned.
In doing so with compassion and appreciation, the hearts of a multitude of tribes, mutual love secured
Isabella Bird’s travel writings were intimate, engaging, scientifically-centered, Exotic visions of places and peoples from every corner of the earth shared,
Resulting in her books’ 10 million readers now realizing global communities mattered.
For as international traveling removes much prejudice against foreigners undeserved; So too does understanding there is good harmony where good customs are understood and honored. Likewise intensifies tenfold one's appreciation of the good, quietness and purity of home life undisturbed.
In 1856, The Englishwoman in America into The Rocky Mountains wild wandered; Affirming America’s lofty beauty, vivifying waters, pure freedom, Lucy Bird authored.
Grandeur and sublimity, not softness, reared by nature in some mood of fury whirled.
Such are the features of The Mighty Rocky Mountains, of Estes Park preserved. The spring pools which begin so softly, soon lost in dark primeval forests undisturbed.
Marvel at peaks of rosy granite, stretches of granite blocks piled, poised, merged.
“So I find myself dropped into the very place exceeding all my dreams yearned.”
In every garden wilderness, I have found a dream of beauty — transfiguring, transfigured,”
“At which one might look at all one's life — and in blissful sighs be ever inspired.”
In 1869, Notes on Old Edinburgh, Ms. Bird for social justice publicly averred, Concerning the evils the elite perpetrated upon the impoverished in slum hells darkness fettered.
In 1902, after studying medicine intensely in order for the ill to be doctored, Ms. Bishop-Bird used her vast fortune for the ailing to be fully recovered,
Hence, founding The John Bishop Memorial Hospital in Kashmir for all the poor who suffered.
Ever Alive with The Spirit of The Undiscovered: Isabella Lucy Bishop Bird.
