Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23

time became the foremost OF Europe. This
marriage. which made Spain SO prosperous,
was rather a romantic one.
MARRIED TO SUIT HERSELF.
Henry w., her brother, endeavored to
force Isabella into marriage twice to serve
his own selfish ends, but she resisted, and
finally ran away with Ferdinand, and his
tory records they were SO poor that they had
to borrow money to pay the wedding fees.
Isabella, as is evident, was strong-minded
woman even in that day. She, maintained
her rights as Queen of CASTLE, and told Fer
dinand, when hesinsisted upon having sole
management through virtue of wifely obedi-
ence, that an a wife she would fulfill her du.
ties, but as Queen of CASTLE she would hold
her own in the way OF power and revenue.
This being settled they wisely avoided dis
putes, and gave their time and energies to
harmonizing conflicting factions, promoting
prosperity, encouraging arts and industry,
and establishing justice.
Isabella was superior to Ferdinand in in
telligence and wisdom, but they worked
amicably together for the benefit of the peo-
pie and the prosperity of their United King
doms. Isabella Lowell her husband and he
gave her as much affection and devotion as
his narrower and more selfish nature would
permit.
WHAT ISABELLA DESERVES
In the coming two years, we shall hear a
vast deal about Christopher Columbus.
Honors will be heaped upon his name and
statues erected to his memory. His discovery
of America will be the subject Off all goes
well-the grandest celebration in the world.
1t is fitting then that the woman in the case
should also receive due honor. that her
praises should be sounded-that her share
in he ho
she had been in the position of many de-
pendent wives, without dollar to call their
own, it is hard to tell how the history of this
country might have been changed.
The two dark blots upon the reign OF Isa-
bella were the expulsion of the Moors and
Hebrews from her empire and the establish
ment of the horrors of the Inquisition. The
Moors and Hebrews constituted large body
of the best citizens OF the country, and driv-
ing them out from their homes was serious
blow to the prosperity of the empire, while
the Inquisition was a cruel infraction of
civil liberty that nothing can excuse. Both
were instigated by the church. Isabella in
secular affairs was broad, liberal and en-
Iightened, but in religious matters, owing to
her education, she was narrow, bigoted and
fanatical.
BRoKEN-HEARTED QUEEN.
Superstitious people, in reading the story
of her life. will likely claim that her do
mestic misfortunes were a Judgment. Her
only son, in whom was centered her love
and ambition and the succession to the
throne, died at the age of 20. Her eldest
daughter, who had married the heir ap-
parent of Portugal, now became the
hope of the nation, and her son
was looked upon as the heir to
the crowns of the three Kingdoms, but her
husband died in short time and the baby
heir followed in his second year. For state
reasons the youthful widow married again,
but died shortly afterward.
AS If these dreadful Affections were not
enough, the younger daughter became in
sane after the birth of a son (Charles VI.
1t was during these family troubles that the
enemies of Columbus succeeded in having
him disgraced and deprived of his rights |
and honors. Isabella, still his friend,
ordered their restoration, but Ferdinand
trescherously deceived her.
In order that the great Queen of CASTLE
should receive her fair share of the honors
on the four hundredtn anniversary of the
discovery of this continent, the women of
America have ordered statue of Isabella
to be displayed at the Worlds Fair at Chi |
cago. and intrusted the commission to
Harriet Hosmer, the first American woman
to achieve fame as a sculptor. Miss Hos
mer is at present in Europe engaged in the
study of the picture of Isabella and the COS
tunes OF the period. The woman at the
bottom or the Columbus business was q
credit to her age and country.
BESSIE BRAMBLE.