The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-06
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF.
written for the Record Union by
Dorothy JAM

written for the Record Union by
Dorothy JAM
The Klondike gold excitement recalls
the days of 40 when all ATTITUDES, all
seasons became bound vassa1s to the
great god, gold, and has rekindled in
US all something of the spirit Of adj
Venture, which, in the early days drew
many people together in this region to
seek their fortunes. and at the same
time resulted in opening up a highway
for the advancing forces of civilization
IN a country that seemed but a trackless
wild, utterly barren and forbidding and
destitute az all promise.
As California looked half a century
ago when the discovery of the great
mineral wealth of the State attracted
the attention Of the world to the Pacific
Coast, 50 Klondike-at least through the
eyes Of the reporters-looks now, and
the consequence may be equally valu-
able development by the advancing tide
of civilization now turning attention TO
that country.
Facilities for news travelling were not
so numerous in the days of '49 as at
the present time; letters were a long
time reaching their destination, but
when they did arrive the world was cleo
trified and a rush was made Tor the
great West. Vessels of ali kinds along
the Atlantic seaboard were prepared
for the voyage and We're heavily laden
with a heterogeneous collection Of bag
gage, freight and people, and as the
staunch ships gracefully bowed their
fareweIIs amid the heaving swells OF the
storn-stirred Atlantic there was many
a tear-dimmed eye among those who re
NAMED on the shore, lest they might
never see their loved ones again, for dis
lance seemed almost as separate as
death in those days.
Life on the sea for any length Of time
tries mems souls and taxes women
nerves and patience, and reveals the
ability to draw pleasure from the pass
ing moment, and to say pretty nothlngs
about the monotonous sesame OF nome
life on the shipboard. Disagreeable IN
dividuaI tendencies are most sure to be
exposed, and it requires the most cult
waited skill to ignore unavoidable an
noyances among people who would
never be drawn toward each other save
as they are Gagged with them IN the
limited confines of a steamship.
Diversity of amusements, such as I'M
promptu music. dancing, attempts at
55irtation. verging sometimes into earn
estness, help to relieve the tedium.
Polemics, too, OCCASIONALLY come in for
n. share of attention and many an hour
is spent in endeavoring to disentangle
lznotty problems, and in discussing
vexed questions of social and political
bearing when each thought expression
leaves its impress, more or less, while
very few are willing to acknowledge
their views any different from those
previously entertained.
The voyage to the gold fields then, as
now, had multifOrm dangers and dis
couragements. Sickness was the newt
able consequence of the hot climate at
Panama where many half-crazed golu
seekers had gathered on sailing vessels
from various quarters OF the earth' an
ticipating passage on passing shlpS that
would bear them to the Golden cate
There were frequently belatlng 1ogs on
the Pacific Coast; the charts were ofteh
so untrustworthy that many questioned
the efficiency of the pilots, and the pos
sibility of a shipwreck was constant
source Of anxiety.
Those who came overland endured
equal. hardships as those going by Jun
eau and Dyea now, with the greater
danger then of Indian massacres, but
'tBevond the Alps Lieth Italy ana gold
was the predominant tint OF the pillar
of fire that Iured them onward to brave
danger and death, for they were sutfl-
Gent alchemists to know that well-tlled
Golfers would attract all else desirable.
They Travelled forward toward the Au-
Korean light of the new world, beckoned
on by the magic wand, regardless of the
thorns and thistles that might be bum
died in with the prospective golden
grain.
Wondrously free were those sons
from the rock bound coast of New
England. who, unfettered by the re-
straints of civilized life, could unfold
their varied characteristics beneath
the smiling blue that canopied limitless
stretches of plain and mountain fast
nesses, hills and valleys, forests, lakes
and streams, where were the most glo-
rious possibilities for the activities of
an ambitious life, inspired by the COM
panionship of the immense forest trees
of the gigantic Sequoia speculation.
Feverish with enlarged expectations
and eager to realize the day dream of
their susceptible imaginations, many
wended their. way from the strange
new city of tents by the Golden Gate,
up the Sacramento River, and thence to
the new and much talked-of FL Do
RADIO. Disappointment, danger, suffer-
ing, possible sickness or death, held
them not in allegiance. and every avail
able conveyance by water or land was
pressed into service for speeding them
to the gold district.
Necessity had restricted the early
emigration mainly to those of the male
sex. The mining districts for a While
scarce knew the face of a woman. La
ter on came wives. mothers and daugh-
1ers, virtuous, sweet-faced and win
uingly refined, possessing rare intel
lectual accomplishments, who, with
their loved ones. soon established hum
BILE but creditable homes, and ere long
the softening influences of their loving
care and solicitude were discerned and
acknowledged, not only in the home
circle, but by an elevating social radi-
ance cast throughout the camps.
The true and genuine love of a virtu-
Gus woman is the most powerful force
for good that can enter into the life of
any man, and it has been demonstrated
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