Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-30
NTHERE'S MILLIONS IN IT..
Col. Sellers the Author of the
 Phrase.
DR. STEPHENSON'S WORKS
Spread From 0ahIonega, Ga, to the Mining Camps of California Mark Twain's Use
 of the Expression in the 'GiIded Age.'

kd Age Mulberry Sellers pet remark, "Theres millions in it, has been quoted all over the English speaking world, but the true origin of thGt famous expression has never before been made public. W. P. Price, ex-coRgressnsn from Georgia, gives the following authentic account of the coi1ing of that sayine, which had its birth in the sleepy little town of Dahlonega, Ga. It was, in fact, orc of the few things born there that ever became famous for the old fashioned village has nestled among the mountains for nearly century utterly un- aware of the progress the outside world was making. But in 1850, when the gold fever was at its height, the crazo penetrat- ed even to this secluded valley, where gold had been found upon the mountain sides long before the Indians had been driven from the possessions of their fathers The yield had not been great, but just sufi- cient to whet the appetitics of these noun taineers end make them ready to believe the most fabulous stories of the golden treasures on the Pacific coast.
 Day by day the little group that sat in front of tho corner store diligently whit ting discussed the wonderful finds in Cali fornia, and the storekeeper would even stop the absorbing game of checkers he was pleying with the sheriff in order to join in the conversation when it became most exciting. Such entrancing yarns as were spun therel Such stories as were told about poor devils like themselves who had struck it lucky and were now rich beyond tl,eir widest expectations! The more they talked the more enthusiastic they became, until soon an expedition was formed, com posed of the more adventurous spirits, to start for the gold regions The news spread like wildtlre and soon every ablebodied man in the country was willing and anx- ious to join them.
 When Dr. Matthew F. Stephenson, as- eayer in tho United States branch mint, then located in Dahlonega, heard of this, he shook his head and denounced it as foolish craze, for the doctor had great faith in tho resources of his native town. Then, too, he was an authority in the village, and bis opinion was always listened to with respect. When prospectors and in yestors, hearing of the gold found in that section, came there to investigate it, Dr. Stephenson was always the one deputed to talk to them and dilate upon the hidden wealth of tho neighborhood. PoS%9n pock- st himself, the old doctor nevertheless had large ideas, and on these occasions he never rondescended to mention any smaller sum than millions.
 When he saw that the men were in ear nest about starting for the goldfeldsof the west, the doctor became greatly exercised and announced that he wished to make 0 speech to them before they made any fur ther arrangements. The next afternoon, being Saturday, was selected as fitting time for his oration, and all tho men, wom- en and children of the village assembled in front of the courthouse at the appointed hour for he had fame in the county as an orator and all were anxious to hear what he would say The speech has not been handed down Ey his admirers, but Colonel Price, who was then O printers boy in the village, rcmo1n bers how, standing on the courthouse steps, his long tailed coat flap ping in the breeze, the old doctor pointed one finger to Crown mountain, just south of the mint building, and cried dramatic ally, Boys, there's millions in it.' A shout of derision was his only answer, for his hearers felt they had exhausted all the possibilities of these mines. There's mil lions in itP' the doctor repeated, still pointing to the mountains, but even this prophecy failed to alter tho determination of his hearers, and @ week later they set out on their long journey overland to Cali fornia.
 Rapid transit was then Q thing un- known, and slowy did the bulky wagon train make its way through forests and prairies. Often, when the way was long and the difficulties and vacations many, some one would point to the west and cry, "There's millions in itl' and crack would go tho whips. Thus did Dr. Stephenson's remark become tho word of cheer. When at last they reached California, that ex- pression was still the byword of the camp and often used to encourage disheartcned brother. If 0 claim refused to yield and the poor miner was about to give up in despair, comrade need only point to it and say, There's millions in 1t, " to make its discouraged owner smile and seize his pick with renewed energy. One day an individual by the name of James Sellers came to the camp of some of these Georgia miners and cast his lot with them, and likewise adopted their byword. In fact, it pleased him so much that it was never off his tongue long, and he seemed to derive as much satisfaction as Dr. Stephenson had in rolling it out in sonorous accents.
 The end of the story has already been told-how Mark Twain met MT. Sellers and was SO amused by his fayorite expres- sion that he determined to immortalize both it and James Sellers. When the first Cdiefoh Oi ! Ac NiiOCu A EC C<ilhC Ouo, SiCdp was the indignation of MT. Sellers to find himself famous by reason of his pet say ing, and he swore vengeance against the genial humorist. In fact, he is reported to have said that nothing but the abundant locks of O man by the name of Clemens, with the scalp attached, would satisfy him. Fortunately his ire had time to cool before he again encountered the humorist, though he was still desirous of having pugilistic exhibition on first sight. Peace was final ly restored between them, but not until Mark Twain had promised that in the next edition of his book he would christen MT. Sellers Mulberry" thus forever ob literating the bona flde James Sellers from the story. As the nape of Mulberry" was purely fictitious and therefore not ap- plicable to any of the Sellers family the irate James was pacificd by this arrange ment. Mark Twain was as good as his word, and at the present time to Mulberry Sellers is ascribed the now world famous expression, "There's millions in it"- New York Tribune.
 Chicago Society.
 A correspondent of The Home Journal