The Washington herald., 1907-12-29
LIFE AT GOLDFIELD.
A CLOSE RANGE VIEW
By JULIEN GORDON
BY JULIEN GORDON.

in their little tawdry houses. open to the
thoroughfare, under the stars, casting
ensnaring glances at the passing male.
There is tradition that IN these from
tier places no distinctions of caste exist.
These remain everywhere. in the mining
camp as in the worlds metropolis.
asked a lovely young married woman,
while spinning In her husbands automo-
bile TO his valuable leases how many
persons here constituted society. She re-
piled; The list to a general reception in
cludes. 1 think. about fifty-six" One of
the party interrupted her: why, Mrs. Y,
you remember, asked eighty-five 10 hers"
"Oh. yes she answered, but il was pro-
miscuous; one met persons one did not
know"
Luncheons. dinners, teas. and bridge are
the amusements of this small but agree
able coterie. Its members live IN pretty.
low, neat one-story villas in Crook street
and Fifth avenue. They wear suitable.
simple costumes, and have great deal of
fun. These houses crouch in the dust.
Only one has a tiny grass plot at its
| front. Five entirely leafiess little trees
are ranged before another one. with
strange cans at their bases, used for some
| rite Of mysterious irrigation. Irrigationi
that cry of Navada, which rings in ones
ears from morn until night!
What a whirl is the main street at
night. What contrasts, saloons and bars,
the rattle of poker chips from the gam
bling palaces" faro. the monotonous
call Of the craps-shOoter, minstrels and
their din, and. in the midst Of the general
turmoil, beneath the great low moon, the
salvation Army girls kneeling In the dirt
/ playing on the little mandolins. Their
/ eyes heavenward. ever and anon they
raise their sad refrain. And Jesus Christ
was crucifed." Surrounded by a group
of curious but reverent listeners. they
are never insulted. always respected.
And here l may say that no woman Of
any class receives insult in Goldheld. The
miners are most courteous, and always
ready 10 show the way to stranded
/ traveller or answer a strangers query.
| There are, I believe, three denominations
represented. but fair play" is GoldheId's
religion. No one can remain in Goldheld
/ who does not give it-so people say.
must still remember that ranking quart
/ of milk. But II melts into vapor as the
/ recollection of a one dollar fare paid for
me in a stage by a stranger with whom
| l had only exchanged a few words. His
/ profound affrcnt at my pleading TO re-
/ fund-"a mere courtesy. madam greatly
embarrassed me. I knew him better
later. And when / pointed out 70 my
/ hotelkeeper that he had failed to charge
/ for stamps 1 had purchased, he took up
/ his pen and wrote with a flourish,
stamps gratis" adding. we Western
men don't charge n lady for a few
stamps" My Eastern" amazemeat at
this extraordinary performance was quite
unbounded.
The foothills are all pricked with der
| ricks. The noise OF mills and dynamite
is incessant The whin. the hoist, mark
the mine. as the post, the claim, and
stamp mills the producer" have picked
up the ore. shot with the shining metal.
Goldfeld is probably to be the great
mining city Of the West; but who can
prophesy?
Mr.. Z. a. Harrington. a veteran Of
San Juan, who is acquiring holdings for
the Calumet and Nevada Copper Com
pany. thinks copper in Nevada bids fair
TO eclipse gold; that untold millions are
producible as soon as the resources of
the States marvellous mineral noun
tains are more fully developed Copper
mines are proverbially inaxhaustible. Are
there not twelve century copper finds
stil actively giving forth their wares in
Spain? Just now all mining stocks are
down" and Goldheld brokers weep into
each others waistcoats and refuse 10 be
faF.s
for clients. saying wait two months. 4"
A fresh boom is expected in the winter.
1 met among others the noted George
Wingfeld- He came to GOldfeld with
light luggage. and is stated 10 possess to-
day $4,000, co. His name seems a tails
man of luck I had no time to study him.
and even felt inclined to doubt If he fully
realized what an angel he was entertain
ing unawares. He was a young. round
headed persons, accourtered in a purple
sweater. with a front lock hanging on his
forehead, and with a distrustful express
sion of countenance. He is stated to be
a bad enemy and good friend.
The Nevada Senators were absent-one
in Europe. the other in Reno. did not
hear much OF politics. but in Nevada. as
in the greater part Of the far West, the
enthusiasm for Roosevelt endures 1t is
sincere and passionate. now. Religion,
politics. art. and literature are not
greatly discussed in Goldfield. II is ore
which occupies mind and hand and gold
which thrills the heart.
Music is plentiful, of its kind. I heard
a very fair orchestra at a miners dance
hall, the one evening spectacle which ]
desired to witness. Through a dim back
way and into a muffled lodge I was ush-
cred by a distinguished gentleman to
whom 1 had brought letters Not only
the music. but the dancing was of an ex-
cellent quality The girls all ''frail." was
told. were very ordinary, generally short.
in tailor-made skirts and shirt waists
One Jewess had an intellectual head,
one German had fresh lips and pretty
low, clustering hair. But it was the men
who took the beauty prize. Dressed in
their working clothes and rough hats,
they were indeed splendid specimens OF
manhood. And how well they danced
Their movements were full Of fluid force
Of rhythmic grace. A cOatless man an
nOunced the dances under the electric
glare, and the couples silently advanced
their figures in strong relief against the
dark-brown wooden walls Their conduct
was not loud or vulgar. l saw nothing tC
shock propriety; at any rate. at this
early hour of evening. / asked my com
panion, DO these fellows ever love these
girls?" Yes" he replied, 'and then they
invariably marry them. They become
true. faithful, devoted wives Only now
and then, when taunted by an honest
| FrD-4 1,gf- i
unforgotten word rush into a heated vo-
IcahularN" In anger enhArneraI ,eneer is