Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-31
THERE'S MILLIONS IN IT."
The Origin of Colonel Mulberry
Sellers's Famous Phrase

Ever since the publication of the Glded
Age, Mulberry Sellers pet remark,
There's millions in It," has been quoted
all over the Engllsh-speaking world but
the true origin Of that famous expression
has never before been made public. w. p.
Price. ex-congressman from Georgia gives
the following authentic account of the
coming Of that saying. which had its
birth in the sleepy little town Of Dahlon-
ega, Ga. 1t was, in fact, one of the few
things born there that ever became IA
nous. for the old-fashloned village has
nestled among the mountains for nearly
a century utterly unaware of the progress
the outside wOrt was making. Thirty
miles from a railroad, the rumble Of the
locomotive or the click of the telegraph
has never disturbed its quietude. The
convenience OF the street ?car system has
not ruined the veracity Of the jewellers on
the surrounding hills. and the value OF
suburban real estate remains unchanged
But in 1850, when the gold fever was at
its height. the craze penetrated even to
this secluded valley, where gold had been
found upon the mountain sides long before
the Indians had been driven from the pos
sessions of their fathers. The yield had
not been great, but just sufficient to whet
the apDetiteS Of these mOuntaincers and
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 the corner store diligently whit
Ting discussed the wonderful finds I'm
California, and the storekeeper would
even stop the absorbing game Of check
ers he was playing with the Sheriff. In
order to join in the conversation when
II became most exciting. Such entrance
ing yarns as were spun there, Such
stories as were told about poor devils
like themselves, who had struck It lucky,
and were now rich beyond their widest
expectations! These villagers had spent
MANY days tramping over the rough
mountains around them, and digging
eagerly wherever they caught the glitter
Of the precious metal, each as he toiled
seeing himself the owner of a great mine.
for in no soil does hope spring up so
strong and die so lingering a death as in
the breast of the goid-seeker. He spends
his last dollar. and digs until the pick
falls from his trembling hands, still be-
lieving that he will yet win tickle for
tune Tt was because the men sitting in
front of the corner store had all been
in this state of delirious expectancy, and.
though disappointed. had not forgotten
the dream, that they now began 10 dis
cGss the feasibility OF going TO these
newer and richer fields Tae more they
talked, the more enthusiastic they be-
came, until soon an expedition was form
ed composed of the more adventurous
spirits, 10 start for the gold regions. The
news spread like wildfre, and soon every
abie-boded man in the county was will
ing and anxious to join them.
When DR.. Matthew II. Stephenson. as
sayer in the United States Branch Mint.
then located in Dahlonega, heard of this.
he shook his head, and denounced 1t as
a foolish craze. for the Doctor had great
faith in the resources of his native town.
Then. too, he was an authority in the
village. and his opinion was always
listened to with respect. When pros
pectors and investors, hearing Of the
gold found In that section, came there
TO investigate II. Or. Stephenson was al
ways the one deputed to talk to them.
and dilate upon the hidden wealth of
the neighborhood. Poor in pocket him
self. the old Doctor, nevertheless, had
large ideas, ana on these occasions he
never condescended to mention any
smaller sum than millions. In vain, his
fellow-townsmen would demonstrate with
him. Don't talk to them OF millions.
Doctor. You scare them off. Say
few hundred thousands" But the old
man chung 20 his favorlte expression. and
continued TO roll II out of his mouth
like q delicious morsel. The fact that
a few hundreds were considered a small
fortune in this primitive town. and was
more than he had ever possessed at one
time In his life, made no difference In
the airy pomposity with which he would
say "a million or two" emphasizing II
with a careless wave OF the hand toward
the mountains. indicating that millions
were there for the picking up.
When he saw that the men were In
earnest about starting for the gold-tields
OF the West the Doctor became greatly
exercised, and announced that he wished
to make a speech to them before they
made any further arrangements. The
next afternoon. being Saturday, was Sc
lected as a fitting time for his GRAFTON. |
and all the men. women, and children OF /!