Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1876 — Iron and Gold. [ARTICLE]

Iron and Gold.

i.n to moment of its discovery to the day of its destrucuqn, its intrinsic value cannot be ‘ increased. It will sell for as much in the dust or nugget as, when coined ifito the sovereign. Experience has prayed that every dollar of gold coined costs its dollar in gold to mine. Not so with iron. Iron continues to Increase in value at every stage of development or manipulation; from the unattractive earthy ores, till it pulsates with the seconds of time, as it measures out the limits of the gloriousorb of day- Gold is indestructible. No acid, gas, heat or cold affects its quality or disturbs its purity. It is regarded as the monarch among metals. It is more ductile than any other, and is the only metal free from oxygen—chemically free and

pure. Iron is the servant of all. Its steel arms, its iron ribs and its revolving feet carry us obediently to the uttermost parts of the earth; it nurses us in our days of sickness; it protects us in the hour of danger. Iron haz gn‘»’er affinity for oxygen than any other metal, and is never found chemically free or pure. Gold always has an arfetixiratic shine. It is tlie mineral snpb, typical of. iximp, pride, riches, laziness, ihoolOnce ahd extravagance. It is (piled idly in tl»e bank or counting-room. It is the ornament of tlie belle and the servant, the prince And the peasaht, the palace, and the, play-houte, die temple and tire tenemwk Xt», ui Courted alike by ' both tools and ’’ philosophers, though “all fe mot gold ’ that gutters'.” Iron is the bone and sinew of the land; it dnhi 'shiries when work or worth is demanded. Tlie friction tei enteqirisp, industry and duty keeps it ever bright. It buiklsopr houses. It saws and draws, and smoothes arid: grooves, and sows and mows, and faithfully serves both king and comriioner without a blush of shame, or a bruise of resentment. 1 It is tlie general benefactor of mankind, a true gift of God. Iron and gold cannot be fused or united; their elements are antagonistic. Iron isjthq only metal that will destroy gold. lou may plate iron with Sold, but tlte oxygen will iri time, with its evouring rust, creep through and cut off the glitter of the gold, mar its face and scar its beauty; Humanity, aye, even the soul is frequently •bartered' for the golden bubble,, but aevei far. it»n. Iron is the lowest and cheapest of metals, yet it can rise highest in tlie scale of intrinsic merit. When wrought to its highest value it is worth treble ’ita weight in gold.' Gold, tfce purest of ores, may sink to the meanest service of man. LGrildu**imperial; exclusive, despotic and scarce. Iron is domestic, cosmopolttanl abundant. Gold is regarded as the standard which fixes values. Ibmi produces the values so fixed, whether by the plow, or the press, the mine or tlffi mill, the ship or the steam car; iron demonstrates its utility, its producing power. Cities have been ransomed with gold, but been built iw by iron. Gold i clings to the few, but iron’is the poßscssion and the blessing of tlie many? — N. Y. Her'.an tile journal.