The Trinity journal., 1856-05-17
Farewell to Mining.
BY CALIFORNICUS.

/
Did you ever listen to the splendid ro-
manceS of the California journals or returned
adventurcrs-to the golden legends of this
auriferous era (not the Golden Era,) until
the loveliest surroundings of your daily life
lost their beauty, one constant discomfort
made you miserable, and all your hopes were
swallowed up in one fallacious but fascina-
ting desire which animated the New World
adventurers Of the sixteenth century?
In short, to explain this long categorical
sentence did you ever have the gold fever?
Did you bid your friends goodbye like II
smiling martyr, and hasten on the wings of
the wind to find a cure for your malady in
Ell Dorado? Did you, after arriving there
leave the splendid temptations of San Fran
cisco in l859-50, to attempt more bril-
liant success in the gold fields? Did you,
after many monshs of hard toll, of daily
bcndings over the earthly shrine Of your
golden goddess, finally recover from the fe-
yer and turn your face upon the scene of
your delusion and humiliation forever?
If you have felt and done all this, then
you can understand me; for /, too, have
been mner-I, too, have left the dggings,
and the claims which knew me once, will
know me no more foreveri
Any person not practically acquainted
with the life of California miner-who has
merely heard of its hardships, dangers and
vcisstudes, and only read the story of some
unfortunate gold hunter, would naturally
conclude that such life was devoid of any
attractions, Further than this, the lucky
individuals who make fortunes comfortably
behind counters, and keep their souls from
worldly ken under the same lock that Sc
cures their money, may raise their generous
hands in horror and exclaim against the sor
dtdncSS of such life. No doubt the world
looks upon the spectacle of so many thou
sands engaged in a grovellng search after
wealth-of youth, health, talents and hap
pness all sacrificed to Mammon, as very
mournful and Instructive example. And so
it is, but there are circumstances connected
with the miners life which makes it very
dear to him, which render its very mseries
pleasures, and bind him to it long after the
star of good luck has sunk from his vision
apparently forever
Some Of these intend here to present,
without, however, attempting to fully vindi-
cate or exalt the character of the California
miner-a quite needless task.
Many a man came to California more for
the purpose of escaping from the cold con
ventionalities of civilization and the tyran-
ny of prejudice, than with any hope or in
tenton of making fortune; and such men
have found here all they sought.
Here they can be Independent without
wealth, and industrious without compulsion
Nature opens here her generous bosom, like
a kind and liberal mother, to all her chill
dren alike; so that none need want for the
necessaries Of life. All can come or go, as
they list, and when weary of travelling pitch
their tents and find remunerative employ
ment
The adventurous miner, clad in the home
liest garments, and laborng daily in the
earth, is free man and respectable char
actor. Every community acknowledges his
importance, and the laws are framed to main
tain him in his privileges; for here labor is
estimated at nearer its true value than IN
older countries, partly because it is felt to
be the real staple of our success, but more
because all degrees Of intelligence and abili-
ty are found in its ranks, which also supply
the ruling minds of the State.
In addition to this, the halo of romance
is cast around him. The drudgery of for
tune-seeking is to him made poetical, for ht
lives IL constant communion With nature,