The Alaska prospector., 1903-12-24
Luck" and "Un.Luck.o
TWO FABLES OF pRosPErrING LIFE
 IN ALASKA.

young man sIuck against grub- bing for a living and journeyed to Alaska to grub for gold. He was sanguine of success, of course. being well doled with the Seattle spirilr and inspired with the Valdez vigor. His only anxiety was the subtle fear that Alaska might prove a cooling place for his hot, young blood, and thereby incapacitate him from riot ously enjoying the the fruits of his prospective wealth.
 The petty perils of a prOspector's line did not phase him, nor was he bluffed by the blasts of winter. He felt no other fear-not while the halo of dope lasted.
 But, landed at the initiative point of his pilgrimage for pelf, the halo dissolved, and in it's stead appeared that nebulOus nuisance known as Doubt.
 He was in doubt as to what sec tion of the interior offered the best inducements for his conquering energy and intrepid courage. He was in doubt as to which trail to tackle-the glacier or the govern ment. He was in doubt as to the superiority of canines over equines, or vice versa, for mushing purposes. He was in doubt about when to mush and what to mush. And be- fore he got through he was in grave doubt as to whether the prize was worth the price.
 However, after more potent and inspiring doses of Valdez vigor, the mists of doubt cleared, and glori- ous rays of expectation shone over him.
 Then he distributed great gobs of vitality along the trail getting his grub in for the raid on riches. He got there all right. but his initial stock of energy had been so heavily drawn upon that there was not much left, and he could only pros pecl in feeble, desultory way.
 Besides he had forgotten to in- clude in his outfit the necessary taIisman for locating gold-lhe tal- isaian of toll.
 Then the glorious rays of fond expectation melted away, and the soft and habby fog of indolence set- tied around him. It obliterated his ambition and dampened his ardor. IL suffOcated his conscience and assassinated his courage. And the Seattle spirit or the Valdez vigor was powerless to dissipate it.
 As there Is no royal road to suc- cess in mining that is not based upon hard work, he condemned the district, and lazily and perfunctor- lily mushed back to the coast. his ears filled with the derisive croak of the raven and the n,ournful hoot of the owl.
 In this befOgged state he drifted into the sea of incompetence and folly, where he will probably con tinue to drift until purged by the drastic physic of want-adminis- tered quantum sufiicit to kill or cure.
 MoRAL-It is better to have mined and lost than never to have mined at all.
 Now. about this same period of time another young man, hearing of the marvellous possibilities of Alaska (and believing in the Val dez veracity as well as vigor) de- termined to avail himself of them.
 Being of calm, dispassionate temperament he lacked the fiery blood and untamed emotions of the misguided one; consequently he was 10th to tackle the strenuous life and uncertain pay of a pros pector. He was 10th to forego the nourishment and flavor of human food for the canned variety. He was 10th to mushing sled or pack ing hump; and he was unaltera- ply opposed to cultivating a more intimate acquaintance with Jack