Next up was a solo performance by Wu Man (that's her name, not just her gender) on a pipa, a lute-like stringed instrument from China. She played a traditional song that constantly shifted in tempo and intensity. The sound of instrument changed as well: one minute it rang melodically like a mandolin; then she would pluck it quietly like a harp; and occasionally she would thrash furiously like Pete Townsend torturing his guitar at end of a Who concert. Until she played sustained notes with vibrato in them, my ears couldn't identify sound as distinctively Chinese, so broad was range of tone and mood achieved by player.

Did I mention there were danger and conflict on Silk Road? The next modern piece, 'Blue as Turquoise Night of Neyshabur', by Iranian composer Kayhan Kalhor, featured several traditional instruments from Persia and India. These, however, were utterly drowned out by violins, violas, cellos, and contrabass - as if Asia were being warned never to get into a land war in Europe. The kemancheh, or "spike fiddle," from Iran and Caucasus region, sounds somewhat tinnier than a violin and more - well, old. Its mournful sweetness couldn't be heard except during solos.

The ney, a Middle Eastern flute of bamboo, wood, or metal, made such a delicate

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Rob LaGrone, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

By 1905, many of mines were abandoned and town's population had shrunk to about 150. A fire in town's business district in 1912 destroyed many commercial buildings and death dealt a blow to remnants of Garnet. The coming of World War I drew most remaining residents away to defense-related jobs. By 1920s Garnet was a ghost town. Cabins were abandoned, furnishings included, as though residents were merely vacationing. F.A. Davey still ran store however, and hotel stood intact.

In 1934 when President Roosevelt raised gold prices from $16 to $32 an ounce, Garnet revived. A new wave of miners moved into abandoned cabins and began reworking mines and dumps.

World War II drew population away again. The use of dynamite for domestic purposes was curtailed, making mining difficult. Garnet again became a ghost town. Once again F.A. Davey and a few others remained.

Several new cabins were constructed following war, and in 1948 an auction was held with items from Davey store. Much remained however, and souvenir hunters soon stripped town not only of loose items, but of doors, woodwork, wallpaper, and even hotel stairway.

The future of this historic town now depends on work of volunteers and contributions from public..

Society in Garnet differed from that of earlier mining camps. While single males were predominant in early mining camp, Garnet had a larger number of families. Social life therefore was quite different. Although drinking, gambling, and houses of prostitution were still enjoyed by men, married women were far more numerous in Garnet. They rarely visited saloons and only went to business district to shop for necessary food and clothing. Also, unlike earlier camps, a school house was established in Garnet soon after it's founding.

A variety of social activities were available to residents of Garnet. Family-oriented activates, such as dinner parties, card games and hay rides were common. Family picnics, fishing trips, and shopping trips took place during summer months. Sleigh-rides, sledding parties, and skiing were favorites in wintertime.

One of largest community celebrations in Garnet was annual Miners Union Day gathering held at Miners Union Hall. Many of social functions wee held at Hall, which was completed in June of 1898. Community dances were held there every Saturday night, and in early years of Garnet's history, there were often three or four social functions a week. The Hall with its one large room and small stage often was scarcely large enough for crowd.

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Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com