The weekly Butte record., 1867-11-30
For the RECORD

The burning god of day of day has disappeared
behind the western hills, the evening breeze has
lulled Itself to low sad whispers in the grove. the
lengthening shadows have blended themselves into
gloomy pail, and enEeloped the earth, the stars
in the upper deep have lit their brilliant lamps. to
show the wonderful working of the solar system,
and sweet Luna has raised her pensive face in the
east to throw soft radiance DER the sleeping EARTH
and does the earth sleep, Yes. the earth is alter
nately sleeping and waking; it sleeps TO become
invigorated and beautified and awakers with smil-
ing freshness. to cheer the hearts of the mortals
that people it; those mortals, too, sleep with the
earth, and. in that sleep, they dream. Some have
frightful, horrible dreams. that almost stagnate vi
tality at its source that almost petrify the very
marrow in their bones.
They dream of demons darker than night, and
more terrible than death itself. They dream Of
dangling over awful chasms, suspended by frsil
shrub. liable to break at any moment, and precipi-
tate them thousands CT feet below. into yawning
whirlpools be devoured by monsters of the deep.
They dream of immense serpents. whose Shiny
folds around them and just in the act Of man
Cling their flesh with venomous fangs. They dream
of being in the stormy ocean, elinging 10 small
board, with nothing in sight but the dark rolling
waves, and flying clouds above them, whose pom
derous masses are continually torn asuuder by dar-
ting tonges of lurid fame while shoals Of hungry
sharks and loathsome monsters Of the sea, are
swapping at their limbs. They cream Of being
barefooted in the midst of burning desert, foot
sore with travel y with swollen tongue and tormen
ting thirst, seeking in vain for An oasis.
But others have beautiful dreams. that fit 'er
their minds like glorious visions of brighter world
dreams that glide er their souls like q succession
far away into the hidden realms of thought, they
Gull the richest and rarest flowers OF fancy, they
break loose from dull facts and. soaring away into
unknown regions, grasp treasures that the loftlest
reason never eau reach they dive down into the
bottom of the ocean, and discover new worlds OF
wealth and beauty; they behold magnificent cities
built of coral and decked with gems Of rarest hue,
while the busy workers that have labored for ages
to erect them. are still toiling on; they climb the
starry ladder of the skies, and take their stand on
the observatory of creation; they behold the grand
metropolis of this universe, and the glittering
hosts that throng around the throne of the Great
king, whose radiant smile is the herald Of eternal
day; they hear the silent music of the spheres, as
they in their orbits and it fills their hearts
with charm, that even the eloquent language OF
angels may not express; they become passengers in
the golden car of the sun, whose locomotive flies
with such amazing CELEBRITY that leaves electricity
tlar ,hn,, tha of nr,i-
verse and stand sentnels the very outposts Of
creation-when suddenly they awake. and discover
that they are denizens of this every day world Of
ours, toiling and struggling amid jostling crowds
for a subsistence. IT. as Byron says,
I'VE made up of things IS dreamers are
How important it is for US to keep our minds
placed noble. beautiful and exalted subjects, SO
that our dreams may only be the sweet, rosy poet
ical sublime and soul-cheering past time of sleep
Butte Greek. Nov. 10th. 1867. ALP.
MINING AND FARMING.-It was Thomas H. Ben
ton, we believe, who predicted that at some future
period passengers on the Mississippi river would
have gold Inning through the interstices of their
knit purses. He lived to the tulillment of his
]
known among the advocates of national bank
currency by the sobriquet of "Old Mint Drops"
The prophet and hard currency advocate is
also credited with another remark predicated up
on truth of history" of all strictly mining coun-
tries, viz: THAT the possessession of gold and sill
mines was the greatest curse with which the
industry OF country could be afflicted We do
not quote this for the purpose of approving it alto
gether, yet for the purpose of wholly condemn
ing it. The experience of California miners has
shown that sole reliance upon the mines is pre-
carious and uncertain business, liable to create
much destitution and suffering with some, whilst
piling wealth upon others. That the possession of
vast mineral wealth has been a curse to California
or to the nation, is maniestly incorrect. What it
might have been the sole reliance of the State, is
another question, which would scarcely permit us
to dou1t the correctness in the main, OF the
rema attributed to Mr.. Benton. Regarded and
treated as an auxiliary to varied agricultural pur.
suits, and the mechanic arts and manufactures it
affords impetus to prosperity not attainable in
either without the assisting presence of the other
While therefore, not placing our mineral interest OF
the present day as the foremost one OF the State.
would still not place it at the foot of the list.
The past two or three years in California have wit
messed more general prosperity among those en-
gagged in agricultural pursuits and mechanic arts
and manufactures, than amongst those engaged in
mining for the precious metals. With the world
for market, it is almost an impossibiGty that q
man should pillow and SOW through seed time. and
reap during the period Of harvest without realizing
profit from his labor; whereas, man may spend
the entire season in mining operations and realize
nothing The one may realize an immense return
but is uncertain; the other is certain TO produce
profit upon the labor rendered, and the means Of
the successful miner enhances the value of the pro-
ducts of the farmer We Argue then that as Butte
is both an agricultural and mineral county, it has
peculiar advantages for advancement in all that
constitutes wealthy and prosperous commu nifty;
that the chances for moderate and certain success
are with the agricultural interest. Let those there
fore, who have only small capital in connection
with their labor to invest turn their attention to
agriculture as the more certain to return fair
compensation. 1t is the sure foundation Of our
prosperity, 10 be augmented over and above its
own vcliton according to the success of miner
eral interest.
SroPrgp FOR RErAIRs.-The ophir Touring mill
has not been running during the past week. having 6