The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-25
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g Il looks very much as Il the wild valleys
and rocky Businesses about the Black Hills |
are 10 be suddenly transformed into popu- |
io,,s commemorative. like California and
Nevada, The same causes which peopied
the sandy shores OF the, Pacific and the
desert hills far into Nevada exist In the
wilds Of Dacotah, even to the verge OF Mon-
tana. The pilgrimages have been steady
since the first glowing accounts OF the trea-
sure-land came to the expectant ears OF the
adventurous and discontinued IN the East.
The proportions Of the stampede can hardly
be realized from the meagre reports which
reecho family the intrepid endurance ana
adventurous devotion Of the trcasure-seek-
ers. By colonies OF from fifty to three times
that number the miners have been pouring
In amain during the last fifteen months.
The interdict Of the Government produced
apparently not the slightest perceptible
effect. Indeed, on the contrary, it seems to
have added zest to the spirit which sets
masses forfune-seeking, The ineorrigible
spirit OF unrest; the Quenchiess thirst fos
suddenly-acguired riches which takes hold
OF mems imaginations at certain stages Of
life; the longing for change and all That is
implied by untrfed conditions and eircum-
stances; the irrepressibae impulse of TO-
nance, which gives color to the most prac-
tical mind by turns; the eagerness for the
unknown-ail these motives bind men to-
gether for Just such missions as The settling
OF the treasure lands requires. Without
these impulses, the shortest-Rved it is true,
but all tho stronger for their spasmodic cha
racter, such hegiras would be impossible.
1t is the instinct OF adventure more than
profit which settles the prairies and noun
tains OF this boundless continent, just as the
love OF discovery, rather than the zeal for
gain, brings about the prodiSious results Of
science.
In the settlement OF the Black Hills coun-
try there is an element of mystery the like
of which the history OF the California pio-
neers make no mention. When the pacto-
liam streams had become known OF men in
'4S and '49, the steamers from Panama were
crowded; the overland route an incessant
caravan Of eager emigrants. It is markedly
not so now. Indeed, on the contrary, some
thing like generalization is apparent in the
suppression of the numbers pouring Black
Hillward. Only an occasional glimpse OF
surprise and slaughter, or captured house
hold treasures, bring to the mind Of the
eastern world the rcmotest suggestion
that the nucleus OF new civilization,
the molecules of q new organism, are
gradually drawing together among the
streams which water the golden sands OF
Dacotah. Stray glimpscs from the extreme
frontier presses now and then give an idea
Of the manner OF men these new Argonauts
are. They are made up mainly Of the brain
and muscle who find the hard lives OF New
England farm life ineXpressibly dull and un-
paying in every sense. Who cannot see
them, as they throw down the old imple-
l,,x. f1,n r11 fooh ,nI
peaked plough, the hoe, rake, alone available
Vermont; the whole primitive system,
indeed, by which the south was
despoiled OF its life-giving treasures
before steam-ploughs and patent reap
ers lessened mans labor, and without
very materially increasing his pleasure or
profit. The shops, too, contribute follow
ing; but the city is rarely q recruiting
ground for enterprises OF industry or en-
durance. 1t is only when the study yeomen
have gone on in advance and established the
civilized conditions requiring q certain
grade o; efficiency that the city malcontents
will consent to leave the paths, which are
no paths of pleasantness, nor the ways,
which are neither the ways OF peace, plenty,
or Providence.
New countries are always settled by men
who have an instinct OF the needs Of new
settlements, though it does not hold good
were Of varied conditions and regularly di-
versiied parts. Then whatever the indus
trial and commercial conditions Of the time
may have been, the thirst for gold parched
other heads than those Of the horney-hand-
ed. 1t was fortunate, too, that it so hap
pened. We should have been shorn Of
some Of the most picturesque episodes in
our natural history, and deprived Of some
of the most epic contributions in our in
cipient literature.
1t was the outrush of "'49" that gave
form to the matchless idyls Of Bret Harte
and the most humorous masterpieces Of
Mark Twain. 1t was among the untamed
toilerS with Sierra gulches that Harte drew
the inspiration for the series of stories
which shall in future stand not far from
Dickens's works in the morals and enter
I tainment Of the reading millions.
Is there Bret Uartc among the new gold
hunters? Is there q man with an eye so
keen and an Imagination SO tensile as the
brilliant romancer of the Sierras? Shall we
have presently sketches of lie and charac-
ter from the wild mining towns-glimpscs
Of passionate, rugged nature, so eXagge-
rated in expression, SO altogether natural
and unnatural, so real and unreal, that the
mind is captivated by the apparent contra
dictions? May it be that we shall presently
discover genius SO bold, hand so deft in
portrayal, and mind so instructed with the
best forms of literary expression, as the au-
thor of the Sierra idyls.
1t would be worth the trouble and tur-
moil Of settling new country; it would
be worth adventuring all the sea of trouble
which the destruction of flood and field i'm
ply; it would be worth adventuring the
horror Of Indian war, in a modified way, to
bring about such a net result as Bret Harte
and the anti-Raphaelite school, which owns
him Us its master. While the nation at large
is attracted otherwheres discussing the In
dian possibilities, this new empire is grow
ing by accretion where the stream runs yell
low and the rocks shine out welcome in
rugged lines Of flint and gold.
Presently we shall hear Of cities and
towns, incipient political ambitions, and a
new State, where Sitting Bull now guards
with his tawny braves the no longer i'm
penetrable treasure lands of the DacOtahs.-
Chicago Times.
Our readers will thank us for the fol
lowing sure preventive against hydro