More Musings

Searching for the Mother Lode

Jack London wrote that the best gold seekers in 1848, netted around $4 per day.  They could have earned more than that amount in private industry, if they were so inclined.   

But where is the thrill about that?  All boy-like men like to dig in the sand and mud. It's in our genes.

 Panning for gold was like playing the Lottery.  That lump of shiny material on the bottom of the pan might just be useless iron pyrite, or it could be a ticket to all the fine things in 19th Century civilization.  

"Accursed thirst for gold! what dost thou not compel mortals to do?" Vergil  Aeneid

Saying:  "All that glitters is not gold."

This was derived from a 16th century line by Shakespeare "All that glisters is not gold."

                                                               

"non omne quod nitet aurum est" (not all that shines is gold.)

I just finished watching a marvelous movie called "The Two Popes."  a lot of Vatican art and decoration was shown ... with lots and lots of gold!

I remember the cover of one issue of Simplissmus magazine.  It showed a disheveled Christ-like figure looking into a cathedral and asking: "What kind of religion is practiced here?"

    Genug, meine Freunden.

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