Roughing It · Chapter
XLIV explained
The narrator describes the speculative frenzy of Virginia City's mining boom, where wildcat mines, stock manipulation, and 'salting' schemes flourished.
What happens
The narrator describes the speculative frenzy of Virginia City's mining boom, where wildcat mines, stock manipulation, and 'salting' schemes flourished. He recounts how reporters were bribed with 'feet' of stock to publish puff pieces, how friends freely gave away shares, and how even a cellar excavation could be claimed as a mine. The chapter culminates in the scandal of the 'North Ophir' mine, salted with melted half-dollars, which ruined the tragedian McKean Buchanan.
Themes in this chapter
Get-Rich-Quick Schemes and Speculation
The chapter vividly illustrates the speculative mania, with wildcat mines, stock trading, and 'salting' scams driving a frenzy of easy-money dreams.
Humor and Exaggeration
Twain's hyperbolic descriptions of reporters 'frothing at the mouth' over worthless mines and the absurd 'North Ophir' salting with half-dollars exemplify the chapter's comic tone.
The Absurdity of Pretension
The pretense of mining expertise and journalistic integrity is mocked, as reporters praise tunnels and superintendents while ignoring the actual rock.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Works as a reporter, receives stock gifts, and sells a claim for a suit of clothes.
- Mr. Stewart
Offers the narrator twenty feet of 'Justis' stock but later refuses to honor the offer after the price rises.
Key passages
“My salary was increased to forty dollars a week. But I seldom drew it. I had plenty of other resources, and what were two broad twenty-dollar gold pieces to a man who had his pockets full of such and a cumbersome abundance of bright half-dollars besides?”
The narrator's salary rose to forty dollars weekly, but he rarely needed it because he had so much money from other sources.
Highlights the narrator's financial ease during the boom.
“To make money, and make it fast, was as easy as it was to eat your dinner.”
Making quick money was as simple as having a meal.
Captures the get-rich-quick ethos of the time.
“On one of the lumps of 'native' silver was discovered the minted legend, ' ted States of ,' and then it was plainly apparent that the mine had been 'salted' with melted half-dollars!”
A piece of supposed native silver bore the partial inscription ' ted States of,' revealing it was actually a melted half-dollar used to salt the mine.
The absurd climax of the 'North Ophir' salting scandal.