‘26 The JYaturalists^ Companion. 
A Visit to a Copper Mine. 
BY J. E. J. 
Saturday, May 15th, dawned clear and 
cool, and found myself, in company 
with a friend, speeding along toward 
the copper regions of Northern New 
Hampshire, on our long planned and 
looked for colledling trip. After a ride 
of perhaps a dozen miles through some 
of the most beautiful scenery in New 
England, and catching glimpses here 
and there of the familiar White Mount¬ 
ain range and snow-capped Mt. Wash¬ 
ington, we at length emerged into the 
little valley of the Connedlicut, and there 
at our feet, tossing hither and yonder, 
lay the turbulent stream which divides 
the old Granite State from her sister 
State, Vermont. After paying the cus¬ 
tomary toll fee, we began the ascent of 
a long range of hills which, had there 
been less sand, would have been more 
comfortable both for man and beast, and 
which separated us from our destination. 
The principal mine, known as the 
Little Mine, is situated near the crest of 
a steep and rocky mountain range, ren¬ 
dering it very difficult to walk, much 
less to ride. We stabled our team at 
the barn of a friendly farmer, and after 
over an hour’s hard climbing over some¬ 
thing less than three miles of rocks, we 
came in view of the mouth of the mine. 
The ore was considered so rich arid pay¬ 
ing that about two years since a com¬ 
pany was organized to work it. Machine¬ 
ry was transported thither and a building 
eredled. A shaft was sunk to a depth 
of some two-hundred feet, but the cost 
of transporting the ore was so great and 
difficult that after a few months they 
were compelled to stop work. Were it 
not for this fa6t and the situation of the 
mine, it could, in all probabilities, be 
very profitably worked. 
We found, much to our regret, that 
the shaft was flooded so that it was im¬ 
possible to descend, but procured some 
very fine and' showy specimens at the 
mouth. These specimens showed a very 
rich pei'centage of copper, and are the 
handsomest foT the cabinet ever produc¬ 
ed, the clear purple blended with the 
copper plates making it unusually attract¬ 
ive. 
After carrying our specimens back to 
the house, we were well prepared for 
the hearty meal which the matron of 
the establishment had very considerately 
placed before us. We had intended to 
visit several other localities, but as we 
observed indications of rain and were 
desirous of reaching home before dark, 
we were obliged to forego the pleasure 
of the trip until a later day. We reach- 
home about tea time, well satisfied with 
our day’s trip and a quantity of fine 
specimens. 
Discouragements. 
Some writer has affirmed that the 
proper study of mankind is man. A 
more comprehensive statement, and one 
equally true, is that the proper study of 
mankind is nature, of which man forms 
a part. 
The utilitarianism of the present day, 
is the bane of natural science. The study 
of nature for the love of it, is so out of 
harmony with our nineteenth century 
American civilization, that the latter, in¬ 
stead of a help, is often a hindrance to 
it. The average American regards as 
good for nothing that which does not 
possess a market value that can be ex¬ 
pressed in dollars and cents. The young 
man who stands behind the dry goods 
