Gilpin observer., 1913-03-13
"reminiscences
OF LONG AGO

miner; while SO Is the date in WTnlcn
the old time Gflpin county resident
harks back to the long ago when
each and every ravine and gully was
rich in the yellow metal that has
done so much to advance this twen-
tieth century to the point that 1t
now holds. Without the discovery of
gold i'm California in '49 and at Greg
ory point in SO that put ginger into
all lines of commercial business, the
average citizen of these great United
States would now be a piker, compar-
ed with the so-called rich man of
those days. Prior to 1850 the head
of family who had accumulated
81 100000 after 40 years of toll and
privation, was considered as having
arrived at a position of affluence;
while he who had by sharp dealing
or good luck acquired the sum of
$40, 900 was bloated aristocrat and
man to be feared both in the ma
tion and commercial affairs.
The reason for recalling the above
condition lis to make plain to the
reader, that the discovery of gold in
abundance, both here and in Califor-
nia,- was the foundation ON which
all present day Injuries and SOCIAL
ed conveniences are demanded by
these who enjoy the freedom which
the stars and stripes guarantee. Both
husband and wife, in those old days,
shared in the rearing and upkeep of
building home. While the man
toiled in the field, the women more
than did her share in spinning the
yarn or flax to weave the cloth to
cover the nakedness of her offspring.
Factories were unknown, the store
was a place where the few imported
necessities could be traded for the
product of the soil or the work of
the hand. Gold was dream of which
the celestial sphere was supposed to
be paved. Silver of such treasure that
ornaments made of same were hand
ed down to posterity with Jealous
care. With the discovery of gold in
California, all of this has changed.
Men saw the opportunity of becom-
ing rich over night America awoke
ais the butterfly from the chrysalis,
fortunes were made, the gold of CONF.
merce was put in circulation. stimu*
lating all industries. The present
day decadence of manhood and NOR
ality was started. Man placed wom-
an on a pedestal where she was to
be simply the queen of his house
hold, the old idea of helpmate was
obliterated. She no longer was expect
ed to share in the hardship of Co
operating in the making of the living,
but simply to rule as boss of the
household. Man was to lay the VIM
nings of the sweat of his brow or
the skill of his brain at her feet.
The result is, that most homes are
an abiding place where the husband
sleeps when he is not working, and
the wife rules and spends all the
money on all sorts Of frivolity. The
bearing of children is a lost art.
mere man is provider and hated
necessity, compelled to come through
whenever the queen lifts her little
finger.
Some old-fashioned folks still be-
lieve that this America would be a
better place If the gold Of California
and Gregory gulch had never been
discovered. Was not the simple life
the most enjoyable? Divorces were
am arrknown luxury. A bonnet lasted
a lifetime, the cloak an heirloom to
be handed down to the daughter and
grandchild. Fathers britches, a relic
OF his grandad's. to be made over for
his boy and passed along to later
generations. AS the children grew to
manhood and womanhood and mated
like birds Of the air, they spread out,
wrestling from the virgin forest, new
ground to habitate and furnish sus- ,
tenance for themselves and their Off
springs. A belief in God, a hope for
the future, firm belief In the prov
eatb that 'as ye SOW, so shall ye
reap. A place for the just and the
UNJUST Reward ard punishment for
those who did right or wrong. These
and many like notions were the /
horizon of the Americans Of the days /
when gold was not the chief aim in
life Many In the sere and yellow |
leaf are asking. were Vt not better .
that the yellow dragon had slept and I
never been awakened to leven the
simplicity of life with all the frivolity
that so-called modern society has
burdened 1t with? Living among these
goId-seamed mountains. the golden
treasures Of which are produced and