Sila Marner's Treasure
An Eighteenth Century Story, Yet Relevant Today
I recently re-read the book Silas Marner by George Eliot.
I first read this book as a youngster in school. It was an assigned reading by our English teacher. Although at that time I was not the type of person that enjoyed reading, I did find the story and especially the character Sila Marner to be captivating. And as I reread this story, I remembered how it piqued my interest in the idea of hidden treasures. Much like the book “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson”, “Silas Marner” eventually led me on a lifetime journey of treasures and adventures.
For those not familiar with “Silas Marner” I will briefly describe the book before expanding into what I see as a comparison between the story of Marner, to modern-day treasures.
The story takes place in the nineteenth century. Silas was a recluse weaver, who lived in an area in N. England called “Lantern Yard.” He was a religious man that frequented the local church. Being a friend of the deacon, Silas took care of him when he became ill. Shortly after, Silas was wrongfully accused of stealing church funds. Feeling distraught and that perhaps his life was now ruined, Silas traveled to Southern England and moved into a small village called Raveloe. He became a recluse and choose to not be bothered by others.
As a weaver, Silas was often paid with gold coins. And being a hoarder, and not trusting anyone or banks, he would bury his gold in the dirt floor of his small home. The gold was kept in a pot beneath his loom. As his cache of gold coins grew to be too much for the pot, Silas moved his hoard into two burlap bags.
It brought Silas great joy as he continually added to his cache of gold. He loved counting and feeling the gold in his hands, which he did each evening.
One day when Silas was away from home, his gold was stolen. Silas became devastated and set out to inquire as to who the robber might be. But to no avail, Silas lived for years never knowing who stole his precious gold.
But in the end, the robber was found dead in a stone pit, and Silas's gold was found next to him.
The story of Silas Marner took place in the mid-1800s and his hoarding of gold is not unlike what has been happening during modern times. As a matter of fact, squirreling away money and valuables has been a human condition since the beginning of time. For whatever reason, and there are many, such as the possibility of war, mistrusted spouses and banks, to the recluse that trusts no one, people have always felt more comfortable having their money and valuables stashed away close to them.
I can attest to the fact that in my experience and those of others, countless caches large and small are still being located today. Many are found where a hermit once lived. They are my favorite type of search. And I believe that in today's financial world, with what is happening with banking, the possibility of cash being taken away and replaced with bitcoins, gold, and silver being purchased, and the overhaul distrust of those individuals that control all of the above, that more money and valuables are and will continue to be buried or cached.
In an article I read more than thirty years ago in a now-defunct Banking Magazine, stated that there were approximately one billion dollars in unaccountable monies hidden away. I would bet that figure has doubled in today's modern currency world.
With the above stated, the hobby of metal detecting should continue to blossom well into the future. Especially for those that search for the recluse caches.
I have often said, based on experience and what other pro treasure hunters have concurred, that within ten miles from your home, there are multiple buried treasures, both large and small. You do not have to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to locate one.
There are many Silas Marner’s living near you, or that have passed on. And their caches are just waiting to be found.
UNLOCK THE TREASURES -BECOME A PAID SUBSCRIBER - SUMMER SPECIAL DISCOUNT
