The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-07

the greater depth OF The Antarctic ocean.
II had always been noticed that the
Southern hemisphere appeared TO be over
Weighted. People now began 20 prick up
their cars. and many letters OF inquiry
appeared In the newspapers concerning
me wonderful tdngs from the south.
some asked for Information about the
shortest route 20 the new gold fields.
Iu alittle while several additional reports
came. some via New Zealand. others via
South America. and all confirming IN ev-
ery respect what had been sent before.
Then New York newspaper sent swift
steamer TO the Antarctic. and when this
euterprsiug journal published four-paEe
cable describing the discov, rles 90 detail,
ail doubt vanished ana the rush began.
some time ] may undertake "a descrip-
tion Of the wild scenes that occurred
when. at last the inhabitants ~ the
Northern hemisphere were convinced mat
boundleas stores Of gold existed In the
unclaimed and uuinhabted wastes sur
rounding tho south pole But al present
] have something more wonderful so re-
late
Let me briefly depict the situation.
For many years silver had been alb
cent from the coinage Of the world. It's
Increasing abundance rendered u insult
able for money especially when con
ltheteu WIN Eni1s I Nt Fbfhi 't'+''
which had ragged IN the closing decade o.
the 18Th century was already a forgotten
incident OF financial history. The gold
standard had become universal. and bus
mess ali over the earth had adjusted ~
seif 20 hat condition. The wheels OF In
dustry ran smoothly, and there seemed 20
be no possibility Of any disturbance or
interruption. The common monetary sys-
TEN prevailing IN every land fostered trade
faFaVN
Travellers never had TO bother their heads
about the currency OF money; any coin
that passed IN New York would pass for
its face value In London Paris. Berlin,
Rome, Madrid. 81 Petersburg. Coustan-
tnopla Cairo. khartoum. Jerusalem, Pc
kin or Yeddo u wes indeed the Golden
Age.' aud the world had never been o.
free from financial storms
Upon this peaceful financial creme the
South Polar gold discoveries burst like an
unheralded tempest.
happened to be IN the company o.
famous bank president when the con-
hrmauon OF those discoveries suddenly
nlled the streets with yelling newsboys.
Get me one OF those extras" he
said. ana an office hoy ran out 10 obey
him As he perused the sheet his face
darkened
I'm afraid It's too true" he said. az
ting around o. Gold So going 20 be as
Plentiful ~ iron. II there were not such
= food Of " We might manage. but when
fhey begin 10 make trouser buttons out Of
~" snme metal that g. now booked and
guarded in steel vaults. where will be our
standard ~ worth NV dear fellow" he
continued impulfively laying his hand on
my arm. Il would AZ willingly face the
end Of the work. a. this that's coming
HNaNs - a. a aNa a
hut most people will not agree with
news"
How can IL be good" he burst out
What have we got 10 take the place
or god2 can We 80 back TO the age Of
NtFierf Can we substitute cattle pens and
"heat bins Tor the strong boxes OF tho
feasuryf Can commerce exist with no
'"mmon measure OF exchange2"
Il does indeed look serious" assent
Serious tell you, q Is the deluge7'
Inerea' he capped on his hat and hur-
"a across the street 20 the Office Of
another celebrated banker.
MS premonitions OF disaster turned
"-t 20 b. but too wei grounded The
--p'ehs Of gold at the south pole were
-ner than the widest reports had rep.
--anted them. The shipments OF the
precious metal 10 America and Europe
~ became enornaous-so enormous that
W metal was no longer precious Tho
- OF gold dropped like a falling stone.
N accelerated velocity and within A
HFe5y money center IN the world had
- swept py a panic Gold was more
lN"n than iron. Every government
oompelled 70 demonetize IL. for when
-, sold had falicn into contempt IL was
valuable IN che ewes OF the bubble
44ao stamped pap1r. For once The xgorld