, 1890-02-02
THE PRIZE ESSAY.

this paper is given below. 1t was written
BY Edith s. Putnam. a 10 Year-old girl
who attends the West End school. 1t is
as follows:
Christopher Columbus-Colon in Span
ish, Columbo in Italian-was the son of
Dominica Columbus, a wool comber, and
Susannah Fonatanarossa. He wal born
in Genoa, Italy, and was the oldest of
four children. Columbus love for the
sea caused his father to send him to tho
university at Pavia, where he studied
geometry, geography, astronomy and nav
lgation. At fourteen years he began his
nautical csSeer.
Columbus believed that the earth was
round and could be Travelled over from
east to west. He divided the circumfer-
ence intoitwenty four hours of fifteen de.
grees each, making 500 degrees. Fifteen
hours were known to the ancients, extend
ing from the Canary islands to Thinal,
Asia, the eastern limit of the known
world There remained eight homs or
one-third of the earth UNEMPLOYED.
He believed that by pursuing a direct
course from east to west he could discover
the extremity Of Asia.
Another reason: TRANCE things had
been seen floating in from the west. He
was especially interested in this on &C.
count of two dead bodies cast upon the is
land of Flores, whose features differed
from those of any known race.
On these facts Columbus founded his
belief.
He sought King John of Portugal, al
most convincing him that the earth was
round, but being a jealous man John
wished the honor OF the discovery himself.
He secretly sent out a ship to sail as far
West as possible. The men becoming
discouraged returned, saying-"You can
not reach the East by sailing West"
King John believing them refused to aid
Columbus.
After trying in vain for help in Genoa,
he resolved to go to Spain, where was a
friend of his, who recommended him to
Queen Isabella,
Columbus could not get immediate at
%tention, because the king and queen were
preparing to fight the Moors, SO he re.
manned for months at Cordova. Next
winter Columbus went with the court to
Salamanca and, with the aid of his friend,
gained audience of Petro Gongalez de
Mendoza, archbishop OF Toledo, grand
cardinal of Spain and chief adviser of the
king and queen, hearing of Columbus
plan, he advised trying it.
King Ferdinand would not trust his
own judgment, but sent for all the learned
men and doctors of Salamanca. IF the
earth is a ball what holds it up?" asked a
cardinal. Columbus replied: What
holds the sun and moon up2' How
can trees grow with their roots in the
air2' was another question.
This was the way they disposed Of Co.
lumous' theory.
Seven years Columbus followed the
court from place to place, receiving no EN-
couragement. At last, in bad health and
in great despair, he resolved to quit Spain
forever.
One of his friends seeing him going
away so downcast, went to the queen and
persuaded her to call him back. Queen
Isabella pledged her Jewels for ships.
On August 3, 1862, three ships
sailed from Palos, fishing boats in size,
with Columbus as admiral. The Santa
smaller vessels. They steered their course
islands Sept. 6. As day after day they
sailed the sailors became afraid and ready
to rebel, but Columbus soothed them,
promising rewards to who should first
discern land. Finally birds from the west
we're seen, and other signs showed that
land was near. Early on the morning of
Oct. II the lookout on the Plnta cried:
Land, land ~ When morning dawned
a green island was before them. The
trees we're laden with fruit. Men, wo-
men and children stood upon the banks
gazing in wonder. Columbus knelt upon
the land and thanked God. In the name
of the king and queen of Spain he took
possession and named it San Salvador.
Many other islands were visited, includ-
ing a large island called Cuba. The is,
land, called by the Indians Hayti, was
named Hispanola by Columbus, He
built a fort upon this island and leaving a
few men with it he returned, sailing into
the harbor of Palos March Is, 1893. He
was received with great Joy. He brought
with him Six Indians, rolls of Indian
cloths, bananas, potatoes and gold. He
was soon ready to sail back to the New
World with twelve ships and twelve
hundred men.
Arriving at Hayti he found the fort
destroyed and the men killed. Leaving
another garrison. he sailed west and dis
covered the island of Jamaica. In a lit
tie while Columbus returned. The Span
ish mobiles were so Jealous of him thai
two years passed before he sailed again.
This time he discovered an island which
he named Trinidad. meaning Trinity.
Columbus now governed the new world.
The mobiles accused him OF treason and
sent a cruel man named Bobadilla as gov.
ernor. Bobadilla put chains on Column
bus and sent him to Spain. The people
cried out Shame 10 treat so cruelty the
man who has discovered the new world"
The king commanded the chains to be
taken off and treated him kindly.
Columbus was a very old man when he
made his fourth voyage, sailing west to
find the Indies which he believed we're
not far beyond Hayti. He was wrecked
on this voyage, but was rescued and re.
turned to Spain for the last time. On
May 20, 1906, he died a grieved, disap.
pointed old man; not knowing that he
had discovered a new world which would
be concentrating his work four hun
dred years afterwards. Before he died
he asked that his chains be buried with
him as a memorial of the intratitude of
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.
Columbus believed that during his life
ne was led by the Deity"
| To show how good the character of
Columbus was. l will quote a part OF one
| of the hymns that he taught the sailors: