The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-04-26

How DIR. stephenson's works Spread From
DahIoneRa, Ga, to the Mining Camps of
California Mark Twain's Use of the Ex-
preston In "The Giided Age"
Ever since the publication of The Gid
yd Age Mulberry Sellers pet remark,
"Thcre's millions in it," has been quoted
Gil over the English 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 it's birth
in the sleepy little town of Dahlonega, Ga.
1t was, in fact, one of the few things born
there that ever became famous, for the old
fashioned village has nestled among the
mountains for nearly century utterly I'M
aware of the progress the outside world
was making. But in 1850, when the gold
fever was at It's height, the craze 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 suffi-
cient to whet the appetities of these noun
taineers 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 in Cali
fornia, and the storekeeper would even
stop the absorbing game of checkers he
was playing with the sheriff in order to
join in the conversation when it became
most exciting. Such enhancing 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! 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 wildflre and soon every ableboded
man in the country was willing and anx-
ious to join them.
When DIR. Matthew T. Stephenson, as
sayer in the United States branch mint
then located in Dahlonega, heard of this,
he shook his head and denounced it as u
! 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 prospectors and in
vestors, hearing of the gold found in that
section, came there to investigate it, DIR.
Stephenson was always the one deputed to
talk to them and dilate upon the hidden
wealth of the neighborhood. Poor in peck
ct himself, the old doctor nevertheless had
large ideas, and on these occasions he never
condescended to mention any smaller sum
than millionS.
When he saw that the men were in ear
nest about starting for the goldfelds of the
west, the doctor became greatly exercised
and announced that he wished to make a
speech to them before they made any fur
ther arrangements. The next afternoon,
being Saturday, was selected as fitting
time for his grafton, and all the men, WON
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 by his admirers, but Colonel
Price, who was then printers boy i'll the
village, remembers how, standing on tht
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 dcrision was his only answer, fol
his hearers felt they had exhausted all the
possibilities of these mines. "There' s mil
lions in It'll" tho doctor repeated, still
pointing to the mountains, but even this
prophecy failed to alter the determination
of his hearers, and u week later they SCI
out on their long journey overland to Cali
fornia.
Rapid transit was then thing un
known, and slowy did the bulky Wagon
train make its way through forests ant
prairies. Often, when the way was long
mi ho
some one would point to the west and cry
There's millions in It'll" and crack would
go the whips. Thus did DIR. Stephenson
remark become the word of cheer. WheI
at last they reached California, that ex
preston was still the byword of the CAM
and often used to encourage disheartene(
brother. If q claim refused to yield ant
the poor Iisiner was about to give up IL
despair, a comrade need only point to /
and say, "Theres millions in it, to max
its discouraged owner smile and seize hi
pick with renewed energy. One day Al
individual by the name of James Seller
came to the camp of some Of these Georgi
miners and cast his lot with them, an,
likewise adopted their byword. In fact, i
pleased him so much that it was never OF
his tongue long, and he seemed to derive a
much satisfaction as DIR. Stephenson ha,
in rolling it out in sonorous accents.
The end of the story has already BEEF
told-how Mark Twain met Mr.. Seller
and was so amused by his favorite expires
sion that he determined to immortaliz
both it and James Sellers. When the frs
edition of The Gilded Age came out, grea
was the Indignation of Mr. Sellers to fint
himself famous by reason of his pet say
ing, and he swore vengeance against tn
genial humorist. In fact, he is reported t.
have said that nothing but the abundan
locks of a man by the name of Clemens
with the scalp attached would satisfy him
Fortunately his ire had time to cool befor
he again encountered the humorist, though
he was still DESTROYS of having pugilisti
exhibition on first sight. Peace was final
ly restored between them, but not unit
Mark Twain had promised that in tn
next edition of his book he would christel
Mr.. Sellers Mulberry" thus forever oh
literating the bona fide James Sellers iron
the story. AS the name of Mulberry
was purely fictitious and therefore not aI
,,1t. IL. a t. Il