[William B. Daugherty, New Year's Musings, Reno Evening Gazette, December 31, 1890]

 

NEW YEAR'S MUSINGS.

__________

Retrospective Glances and Old Memories Revived.

            How many old Nevadans can recall the places where they ate their New Year's dinners during the past twenty- seven years? It will require some effort for many to do so, and we speak of the live, not the dead. Where did you eat the first one? In some new camp that has long since passed out of existence? Most likely, for most of us did the same.

            By an effort this writer recalls his first New Year's dinner under the State laws. It was a good one, too, for he cooked it over his own cabin fire. But he had a good appetite then and better teeth, and there was a rosy tinge of romance in the life of a prospector, and an appetizing odor in the burning pine boughs and the crackle of a steak on the coals that is now only a memory. You have all been there, and know how it is yourselves. We are talking to the old pioneers, and don't expect this to appeal to any of the effete cigarette smokers and fly boys of this rising generation. They mustn't get mad about it either, for they will find when as old as we that good looks don't secure good things in this life, unless aided by a bank account. And we all expected fortune to come to us in those early days. There was "millions in it" in every prospect, and we rose early and worked late to hasten the result. None of us expected to eat the next New Year's dinner around the old camp fire. The trip to Europe was planned with such careful attention to details that the name of the valet de cham. was even decided upon. And there was ample reason for building hopes so high.

            Virginia City was booming then, and rich men were numerous, and much better, too, than any that have come since. After that came the successes, and failures, too, of Aurora, Reese River, Belmont, White Pine, Pioche and other places, in which were duplicated the types of generous manhood that sweeten the memories of the past, and give the only compensation for life wasted.

            The wild times in Virginia and Aurora were in the Territorial days, as was also the earliest boom in Reese River. Twenty-five years ago Belmont was booming; twenty-three years ago White Pine was turning the heads of some of the most sedate financiers; twenty years ago Pioche was producing a new crop of generous handed rich men, nearly all of whom have long since fallen before the rapacity of richer and less scrupulous men.

            Thus, one after another, the old pioneers recall the striking events of the early times, and on New Year's Eve reflections will come like unbidden guests, take a seat at the fireside, and stare us out of countenance. They seem to say, "How many times have have you 'swore off' and discarded all your bad habits, only to pick them up a week later? Don't be so foolish this time; just quit without swearing."