Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-10-13
ITALY \ AMERICA.

Last night the Italian Society OF Mem
phis celebrated the three hundred and
~eighty-third anniversary of the discov-
cry Of America BY the famous Genoese
navigator and hero. Christopher Column
bus. The Society this year did not
make any public parade or demonstra-
ton over the anniversary, but concluded
to give a banquet to which a number
Of guests were lraterually invited. The
Committee Of Invitation was composed
of Messrs. A. Yaccaro, Z. Badenelli. L.
Podesta, ]. d. M~ontedonico and John
Sturla. The banquet was spread in the
elegant rooms OF Signor Ragio, No. 10
Jefferson street, aud was attended by
over one hundred persons, including the
members of the Societa di Unione e
Fratellanza Italiana, and some twenty
invited guests. among others Mayor
League, Colonel H. Clay King, Congress.
man Casey Young, Colonel George W.
Winchester, NJ. Hop Johnston of the
Appeal, John Mulroy of the Avalanche
Messrs. Ed Whitmore and J. Harvey
Mathes OF the Ledger.
President A. Vaccaro, jr., OF the Italian
Society, occupied the head Of the table,
and on either side of him sat the guests.
The banquet was q feast fit for IN cpl
cure. 1t contained everything ealcu.
lated to please the palate Of the most
fastidious g%ourmond on earth. The
vintage Of Champagne was scattered
around the banquet table in reckless
profusion, aud the foaming wine inspired
the orators of the night to %eloquence as
they recounted the glorious annals
of Spain of the fifteenth century,
when Ferdinand and Isabella ruled
as mouarchs over the finest por-
ton Of the world, when Spanish ground
was free from the yoke Of the Moors and
the beautiful city Of Grenada was res
cued from the dusky eonquerorS, who
held that section Of Spain for several
hundred years. Two great figures in
female form doomed up in strong relief
in that portion of history. Isabella, of
Castillo, who cheered the dropping spirit
Of her husband, Ferdinand, Of Arrsgon,
and who remained in the camp with her
soldiers inspiring them to great deeds OF
valor until Grenada was taken from the
Moors. The other woman was the
Moorish mother Of Boabdil ell Chico,
the last King Of Grenada, who after sub
hitting to the Spanish c~onquerers left
Grenada with his forces, and as he
reached the mountain pass that hung
above the city, he gave one last look at
the beautiful city and burst into tears.
His heroic mother turned to him aud
said: You do well to bewail over like a
woman what ysu we're not able to defend
like a man Isabella fitted out ships
from her own private purse for Columbus
to discover the new and unknown world.
In after years the Peninsula of Spain
gave to the new world Cortez, DeSoto,
| Vasco de Gamma, Ponce de Leon aud
other wonderful men, who carried the
Spanish flag almost throughout the
length and breadth of the American
continent.
At the opening Of the banquet last
night President Vaccaro arose and made
a neat and appropriate speech, stating
the object Of the a~ssemblsge. He said:
I'VE all know that this country was
bid for years from the sight or knowl.
edge OF civilized beings, until the old
sailor, Christopher Columbus, came to
discover it This country SURPRISES all
others, and is, in fact, the better part OF
the whole globe. II yields everything,
from hemp 10 silk, from iron ore to gold
dust, from common glass to the valuable
diamond-everything that man wishes
Tor. Ii is a glorious pride 10 know hat
il was discovered by our fsllOw.country-
man, Columbus A handful of Italians
are here TO celebrate his anniversary OF
the discovery Of this country. Why is
not the Irishman, the F%renchman, the
American and the German also engaged
together in celebrating the discovery ]
All Of them. as we'll as the Italians, are
indebted to Co~lumbus--the latter all the
more, because he was of their country.
1t would not be improper, then, for the
President Of the United States to declare
this a national holiday, or day Of thanks.
giving. Our Representatives in Con.
gress should work forward 10 this end.
To secure this is the duty Of every Que;
We owe it to the genius and heroic dar
ing of Columbus for discovering Amer.
lea. / hope we will send some one Il
Congress f7ho shall endeavor to exert biz
influence, and induce others 10 favor il
as a national holiday, a day Of thanks
giving and prayer, or Teasing, or eating
maINaiDui W AuVHC NuO uhfc lts 4 uOh
propose the toast, The Day we Cele
brate,' and call GA Colonel Wineheste.
go respond
To this toast Colonel Winchester re
sponded in a happy vein, and bscau
eloquent over the history of the humble
Genoese sailor who gave a new worl
to Spain" or more properly speaking
gave a new world to the old world.
At the close Of his remarks Mayo
League was called upon to speak, whic
he did 10 forcible and appropriate lar
guage.
J Signor j. D. Mon,edonioo was nel
called upon, and he in a very scholarl
ADD chaste manner discussed the legend
B pre-Colambiau discovery Of America
] A.. - IL -. liz. Tx Tr.1ura