Dutch Courage Would Make You Stronger
Jack London, whose works would touch on unionization and socialism, penned a gripping tale about Half Dome. Dutch Courage would refer to the Anglo-Dutch Wars, where Dutch sailors drank alcohol to summon up their courage. In this short story, two young men brought a whiskey flask (contaning alcohol), which they would need while ascending Half Dome. This might have inspired the producers of Dutch Courage, a brand of beer.
Yosemite National Park, which is located on the eastern portion of California, is renowned for its spectacular granite cliffs. It was a result of uplift, erosion and glaciations. Gus Lafee and Hazard Van Dorn were aware of the dangers of scaling the Half Dome. Fear of heights is not uncommon among adventurous souls, not to mention the possibility of an unexpected free fall.
Some might compare the Californian to some English authors, who were itching to see the world during their younger years. But this would be farther from the truth. Joseph Conrad's Jim, for instance, had something to prove for himself after a momentary bout of cowardice. Climbing up the Half Dome would be a walk in the park compared to Jim's ordeal, but the last three pages of “Dutch Courage†would leave readers amazed and amused. (The empty flask fell off from the summit, which astounded the tourists from Mirror Lake. They thought it was a sign. A good one.)
If London were around, he could be a perpetual backpacker. He would ask for a bottle of Dutch Courage instead of a can of Chang. Imagine the places that may inspire him to pen a short story:
Blue Mountains. London might be disappointed, as scaling the slope won't require true grit. In fact, sketchers would select this mountain range as their subject (for their portraits). But the weather pattern in the Southern Hemisphere could baffle him. He imagined a Christmas summer, when white settlers struggled to adapt to their isolation.
Mount Fuji. Lafcadio Hearn was more interested in the religious beliefs of the Japanese people, while London would be motivated to climb Mount Fuji. The serenity of the place, which inspired Buddhist monks, might make the American think twice before changing careers.
Himalayas. London could view Shangri-La from a political angle. After all, its geopolotical location would lead to a discussion on its uneasy relationship with its bigger neighbors.
Central America Volcanic Arc. London would like the fact that Central America was turning into a favorite destination of expatriates. But they don't know where to start. Malcolm Lowry was in a gloomy state of mind when he saw Mexico's majestic volcanoes, which casted an ominous shadow on the nearby towns. The American would choose a lighter side.
Andes. This mountain range is for those who are looking for lost cities and hidden treasure, but London wouldn't be interested in it. Politics shaped the destiny of Latin Americans. It wasn't hard to imagine the author walking with Che.
