The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-10-28
THERE'S MILLIONS IN IT."
Mark Twain's Famous Expression
Originated In Gcorgia--A Former
Cltizen OF Grcenvillo Tells Tho

ofiStnateu Ill SCOrS1a--A FOrmcr
Citizen OF Groenvillo Tells Tho
Story.
BY Kathleen Gray Nelson.
The quaint, picturesque old town of
Dahlonega has for nearly @ century
nestled among the mountains OF north
Georgia, creeping SO quietly and SO
gradually up tho sides OF the green
hills around it that the busy world has
heard but little about it, Rapid tran
sit had not taught the dwellers in this
tranquil village to rush frantically
about as If death and destruction were
imminent, and telegraphic dispatches
40 not whet their curiosity nor destroy
their nerves.
Situated twenty miles from rail
road the rumble of u locomotive is
never hoard there, and the convenience
OF tho street car system has neither
developed booms In SUBURBAN real
estate nor given birth to alluring land
companies. But on the tops of the
surrounding mountains, in the valleys,
on the hill sides, along the roads, and
In every by-way and nook you will lind
abandoned pits, whore tho gold seekers
have been busy, for the region IL rich
in the precious metal, and some Of the
mines are older than the town itself,
having been orig inally worked in Il
rude fashion by the red mon. That
the Indians were fully aware that gold
aboupdcd here Is evident from tho
namo they gave tho settlement, which
WAS Iau-lau. ne-ca, meaning yellow
metal. Since the white man nas
claimed the land as his rightful pos.
session numerous mines have been
worked in this locality, and many arc
now In operation, yielding d goodly
supply Of the shining treasure. 1t was
while on trip to these mines rs the
representative OF a Northern paper
that | met Colonel w. +. Price, whose
life is woven in the history of Georgia.
The towering mountains could not
shut in his greatness, nor coniino his
nsefulness. to q narrow sphere, and
starting out rs q member OF Bullock's
carpet bag legislature, he soon be-
came prominent figure in politics, and
finally went to Washington lbs congress-
man from his district. where he ably
represented his section for many years.
Now in his old age he lives quietly in
his native town, his mind vast store
house where are garnercd all the poll
tical happenings Of the last thirty
years. 1t was from him that heard
tho Interesting account of the coming
of Mark Twain's famous expression
" there's millions in it," Ii is not
generally known that this world re.
nowned phrase originated in Dahlonega
and from that obscure. isolated town
swept over two continents, and is to-
day quoted wherever the English IAN
guagc Is spoken. Like the circles in
the water when a stone has been cast
IN, 1T reached out and out, and finally
struck the tide OF popular favor and
was carried over the ocean. AS the
colonel said: "lt Is ono Of tho few
things born in Dahlonega that has ever
become famous"
1t all came about, too, in a very
simple way, and its originator had no
idea that he had said anything re-
markahle. In 1850, when the gold
craze swept over the country, the news
Of the fabulous finds in the far west
finally penetrated 10 Dahioucga, anu
soon the stories that were told OF the
miners who had struck it lucky anu
were now rolling in wealth were on the
tongues Of all the inhabitants of the
village, from tho vericst youngstor to
the antiquatcd grandsire. There was
not man in tue county but had spent
days climbing the rough mountains
and prospecting, !ondly dreaming OF
the time when he would be a rich mine
owner, and for this very reason they
were all the quicker to take lire at the
tales OF the marvellous wealth Of Cali
fOrnia Most Of them carried in their
pockets small Duggcts as mcmentOs OF
these expeditions, which did not gen
orally pan OUT as they had expected.
and the subject Of gold mining
possessed ar ineXhaustibe fascination
for them. When they commenced to
hear these accounts Of the gold in the
west their enthusiasm was houndless
and Infectious, and soon every able
bodied man in that region was plann-
ing to set out for the new Eel Dorado.
In the street men gathered in little
groups. discussing it; a the corner
grocery they stopped playing checkers,
for they now had an absorbing topic Of
conversation, and the idlcrs who had
been won't to sit out in front OF the
stores, whiting diligently all the day,
now abandoned their sole occupation
and sat close together, talking and
nodding their heads emphatically.
One and all they were resolved to try
their fortunes in this new and richer
land.
The government had in 1888 estab
lished mint at Dahlonega, and up to
February, 1861, when the war neces-
STATED closing it I ,3S1, ,7S4 pieces wore
struck, valued at So, III ,9l9, which goes
to show that gold mining had proved
very prc(itabl there. DR.. Stephenson,
the assayer, was one Of the prominent
characters Of the section and also a
mining. expert and his opinions had
heretofore had great weight with his
nelghbors. Even in those early days
tho lame OF Lulnpkiu county as q gold
region had gone abroad, and syndicates
often sent representatives to look into
the mines with the idea of purchasing
one ana developing it on q large scale.
whenever one of these distinguished
strangers invaded the peaceful pre-
cincts OF tho village q committee OF
cltlZons at once waited upon him to
eXPatlato on the wealth of their mines,
ana DR.. Stephenson was always elected
spokesman for the party. Although
small IN purse, DR.. Stephenson was by
no means poverty stricken in regard
10 ldoas and he talked of money with
1he gll0ness and Indifference of u man
VINO was accustomed to handling vast
quantities. He never deigned to men.