The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 85: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE GOLD DELUGE. 469 Kvery one would pounce upon the precious metal—people would tear each other to pieces, in their attempts to fill their pockets. ‘The lucky ones would get away with as much as they possibly could carry, but when the individual came to consider the value of what he had, he would find that it had no more value than if he had burdened himself with so much copper, and—the same experience would come to every one else. Gold and, in fact, all precious metals—you said it would be an easy matter to make silver or platinum—would lose their values the moment your discovery is made known. In a few hours the telegraph would carry the news all over the world ; all stock exchanges, all banks, yes, and all stores and business estab- lishments, must be closed, while commerce would cease entirely. People working for salaries would no longer receive any ; the richest people in the world (except those holding large tracts of real estate, which would also lose most of its value) will become poor and, worst of all, a famine will break out. The baker can sell nothing, and no one has money to pay him; the few holders of food supplies will corner theni and then—what? It can safely be stated the entire world will be compelled to return to the primitive system of barter ; there is no other alternative and before this could again be done, do you know what will happen? The masses will rise in a gigantic revolution ; the goldsmiths and bankers will storm the bakeries; the people in towns and cities spread over every part of the open country to plunder the farms and satisfy their hunger. Everything representing order, government, society, and family life would be destroyed and the few only of the criminal classes -would remain, waging war upon each other. Do you understand now, Mr. Poulsen, the dire misfortune you can bring upon the world? ‘The axis upon which the world revolves is of gold; take it away and the entire globe will collapse. I can well imayine that you never looked at the matter in this light.’’ His excellency mopped his brow, and Erik, much embarrassed, nervously twirled his cigar between his fingers and placed his hand to his head. Yes, it was all true, but he could not think clearly just then—some sort of memory of a miserable solution of chloride of platinum which he had made in the factory, went through his mind again. How far into the past that was! He felt a kind of indignation at the gold which had humiliated him so, and which he had finally mastered. What if he should carry out his intentions in spite of all the minister said ? He must have expressed some such sentiment audibly, because the voice of the minister fell harshly on his ear: ‘‘ Are you bereft of your senses, man? If you attempt to proceed in this manner the government must take its measures for protection against you. There can be no question of permit- ting you to give the secret of your discovery to the world at large,’’ and a threat lay concealed in the words. Krik rose. He felt that he was the superior, holding mighty power in his hand, ‘‘It is a question whether science caz take such things as you claim into consideration,’’ he replied. ‘“ Science be hanged ! Howcan you speak now of science?’’ His excel- lency began to grow violent. ‘‘ Your discovery would bring misfortune to CoOMmMiclooolks