This is Throwback Thursday #43.  In these, we look back into the past at ESCONI specifically and Earth Science in general.  If you have any contributions, (science, pictures, stories, etc …), please sent them to esconi.info@gmail.com.  Thanks!

---

They following poem appeared in the September 1960 edition of the newsletter.  It’s by Vera Lang.  The South Bay Agatizer is the newsletter of the South Bay Lapidary and Mineral Society, which seems to be still going strong.  They were founded in 1948, just one year before ESCONI.  They hail from Torrance, CA and have an annual rock show.

Description of a Rockhound
by
Vera Lang
(South Bay Agatizer)

What is a Rockhound, did you say?
    They’re folks like you and me,
Except they’re crazy over rocks
    It’s very plain to see.
Their pockets, cars, their homes and yards
    Give evidence of this craze.
They go off on some Rockhound trip-
    May not return for days!

They have an eagle eye for rocks
    That might be of some worth.
They find them if they have to dig
    Deep down into the earth.
They have sharp eyes that know the ring
    When pick hits agate true,
And when it does they dig and dig
    Till it comes popping through.

They take a pick and shovel too
    Wherever they may go
Just hoping that some day they’ll find
    A prize gem worth some dough,
They’re not afraid to lick a rock
    As all good Rochounds do
To see if it is good or bad
    Or maybe something new.

They skin their shins and tear their clothes
    And maybe break a leg
But do they stop? No! They may find
    Another thunder egg!
They dig and dig till almost dark,
    As they have done before,
Then load their cars and what a load-
    Don’t dare take any more.

Then when a Rockhound reaches home
    With all his treasured store
He throws away and awful lot
    And then goes back for more.
Now you may wonder how I know
    Just what these Rockhounds do.
Well, I can tell you everything
    For I’m a Rockhound, too!