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There are few inventions in this world more persuasive than a motorcycle with an impatient rider upon it. It has a remarkable ability to convince a fellow that he has entered into a private arrangement with the laws of physics, and that gravity, common sense, and the sheriff are all
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There is no force in civilization quite so disappointed as a crowd denied a proper catastrophe. Gold Hill, perched beneath Virginia City like a faithful sidekick to an aging celebrity, briefly appeared ready to oblige the public with one. A little fire broke out in the brush west of town,
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There are few things in this republic more dependable than the confidence of a swindler. He awakens every morning persuaded that somewhere, hidden among the honest population, lives a citizen who has accumulated a respectable sum of money but misplaced every ounce of suspicion. It is a touching faith, really.
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There are two sorts of men who buy old hotels. The first believes every creaking floorboard is an insult to civilization and cannot sleep until every nail has been replaced with chrome, every wall painted a fashionable shade of forgettable gray, and every ghost evicted in favor of central air.
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Editor's Note: The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Comstock Chronicle. As discussions surrounding proposed data center development continue in Storey and Lyon counties, we encourage residents to stay informed, review the available
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There was once a time in America when a newspaper considered it respectable to begin a story with the unfortunate souls who had departed this world. A man and his wife would perish, and the editor, being of sound mind and ordinary decency, would commence by saying precisely that. It
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There is no creature in America more confident than a man who has been awake all night and has convinced himself that coffee is a substitute for the laws of nature. He will argue with his wife, his employer, his physician, and even the Almighty, but he will never argue
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Virginia City sprang up the way most mining towns do: overnight, without a plan, and with all the dignity of a poker player who has just mistaken luck for intelligence. One day, there was sagebrush and loneliness; the next, there were miners, merchants, saloons, gamblers, and enough optimism to bankrupt
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I must confess, dear reader, that the notion of sitting with historical figures has always struck me as a peculiar form of vanity. We modern folk, armed with smartphones and opinions on every subject under heaven, imagine ourselves qualified to advise people who actually lived through history rather than merely
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Some forms of government in this country seem designed for no purpose other than testing a citizen's patience. I have spent enough years filling out paperwork to conclude that a man can lose his faith, his dignity, and his afternoon while trying to satisfy a clerk armed with
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Some establishments in Nevada have endured so long that they resemble stubborn geological formations rather than typical establishments. The Gold Hill Hotel is one of them. Built in 1859 and opened in 1861, it has endured mining booms, several busts, economic panics, modern fashion, and several generations of people who
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There are few things in this world more confident than a man driving down a highway at night. He believes the road will remain where it was yesterday, that the other fellow will stay in his lane, and that fate has taken the evening off. History, however, suggests fate rarely