The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1902-08-27

they worship. Gold az II is taken from
the mine IL by no means an object to
inspire admiration, and even newly coin.
ed gold il not more beautiful than silver
fresh from the mint.
"For what reason the highest value is
set upon gold," IL thus stated by Pliny,
(book 33, chapter 19).
at IL because gold il the only sub
stance in nature which suffers no loss by
the action Of fire, and passes unscathed
through conAsgrations and the flames Of
the funeral pile. Nay, even more than
this, the oftener gold IL subjected to the
action Of fire the more refined In quality
II becomes; indeed, fire IL the test Of its
goodness, AZ when submitted To intense
heat gold ought to assume a similar
color and turn red and igneous in ap.
pearance."
The subject Of gold and its influence
on the actions Of men is frequently re.
ferred to by historians and classical
writers, from whose works I have select.
ed II few examples.
but greedy mortals rummaging her store.
D!gged from her en,rails first the precious ore
Which next TO hell. the prudent Gods had laid:
And that auring III to sight displayed:
Thus accursed steel. and more accuSsed gold.
Gave mischief birth and made that mischief bold
Ana double death did wretehed man invade.
By steel assaulted. and y gold BETRAYED.
translation
han nj MA (ot,N Nha nj aSa
Saw light and man gap ed after glit,ering store.
Then wit and beauty were esteemed no more.
(Lucre,Ius. Book W
Gold governs all. get tha, and thou mays, have
What e 'er thy most unbounded wishes crave;
IN short. whoever Is Of that possessed.
Has Jovr himself inclosed within his chest.
Caius Gracious, In the year l2l B. G.,
was killed ut his own request by his fav.
orite slave, Epicratcs u reward equal to
its weight In gold was offered and paid
for hls head. There are several versions
Of this transaction.
Dio,lorus Siculus says, cater Caius
Gracious was killed by the hand Of his
own servant, I.ucius Vitellius, who had
been one Of his particular friends, was
the first that got his body, and was 70
far from being troubled ut his death
that he cut of his head and carried II
to his own house, thereby giving II re-.
markable instance Of his cruelty and
covctousncss, for when Iucius Optimus,
the consul, by proclamation promised to
reward him that should bring him the
head Of Gracious, with the weight Of il
in gold, Ni,cllins bored hole in the
neck and drawing out the brains, pour
cd melted lead in the room. Then he
brought the head To Optimus and re-
turned with the promised reward"
(Eragmen, Of book 81
by Piiny's account, "The invention Of
money opened II new field to human
avaricc by giving rise I" usury and the
practice Of lending money ut interest,
while the owner passes II life of idleness,
and il was with no small advances that, |
not mere avaricc only, but perfect
sort of rage Tor acquiring; To such u de. |
gree, in fact, that Septimuleius, the ia
familiar friend of Caius Gracious, not |
only cut off his head, upon which II price
had been set of its weight in gold, but
bringing il to Optimus, poured melted
lead into the mouth and 81 not only was
guilty of Of the crime Of parricide, but
added to his criminalitv by cheating the
state" (Chapter X'-l+.l
Describing gold mining, Pliny refers
To IAN earth. u kind of pottcr's clay
mixed with gravel, 'gangadia' by name,
which II is almost impossible to over
come. This earth has to b. attacked
with iron wedges and hammers; it il
generally considered that there is moth.
ing more stubborn IN existence except, i
indeed. the greed for gold which Is the
most stubborn Of all things"
Eve must not omit too to observe that
gold, for which there is such u mania