The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-11-20


of senator of Rome: modest smile
lighted up his features. showing that he
enjoyed the state and glory in which he
came; and certainly nothing could be
more deeply moving to mind iniamed
by noble ambition, and conscious of
having greatly deserved. than these tes-
timonials of the admiration and graft
tude of nation, or rather of world.
AS Columbus approached the soyereigns
rose, as If receiving person of the high
est rank. Bending his knees he offered
to kiss their hands, but there was some
hesitation on their part to permit this
act of homage. Raising him in the
most gracious manner, they ordered him
to seat himself in their presence, rare
honor in this proud and punctilious
court.
At their request he now gave an ac-
count of the most striking events of his
voyage and description of the islands
discovered. He displayed specimens of
unknown birds and other animals, of
rare plants of medicinal and aromatic
virtues, OF native gold in dust, in crude
masses or labored into barbaric orna-
ments. and above all the natives of these
countries. who were objects Of intense
and inexhaustible interest. All these he
pronounced mere harbingers of greater
discoveries yet to be made, which would
add realms ef incalculable wealth to the
dominions Of their majesties and whole
nations of proselytes to the true faith.
When be had finished, the sovereigns
sank on their knees, and raising their
clasped hands to heaven, their eyes filled
with tears of joy and gratitude, poured
forth thanks and praises to God for SO
great providence; all present followed
their example, a deep and solemn enthu-
siasm pervaded that splendid assembly.
and prevented all common acclamations
of triumph. The anthem ''Te Deum
Laudamus,' chanted by the choir of the
royal chapel. with the accompaniment of
instruments, rose in a full body of sacred
harmony, bearing up. as it were, the
feelings and thoughts of the auditors to
heaven, 80 that. says the venerable Las
Casas, sit seemed as if in that hour they
communicated with celestial delights Z
Such was the solemn and pious manner
in which the brilliant court of Spain
celebrated this sublime event, offering
up a grateful tribute of melody and
praise. and giving glory to God for the
discovery of another world
When Columbus retired from the royal
presence he was attended to his residence
by all the court and followed by the
shouting populace. For many days he
was the object of universal curiosity.
and wherever he appeared was sur
rounded by an admiring multitude.
While his mind was teening with
glorious anticipations, his pious scheme
for the deliverance Of the holy sepulcher
was not forgotten. 1t has been shown
that he suggested 1t to the Spanish sover-
eigns at the time of first making his pro-
positions. holding it forth as the great
object to be effected by the profits of his
discoveries. Flushed with the idea of
the vast wealth now to accrue to himself,
he made VOW to furnish within seven
years an army. consisting of four thou
sand horse and fifty thousand foot, for
the rescue of the holy sepulcher, and a
similar force within the five following
years. This vow was recorded in one of
his letters to the sovereigns, to which he
refers, but which is no longer extant,
nor is it certain whether it was made at
the end of his first voyage or at subse-
quent date. when the magnitude and
wealthy result of his discoveries became
more fully manifest.
He often alludes to it vaguely in his
writings, and he refers to it expressly in
letter to Pope Alexander vi. written
in 1909, in which he accounts also for its
nonfulfillment 1t is essential to full
comprehension of the character and
motives of Columbus that this visionary
project should be borne in recollection.
It will be found to have entwined itself
in his mind with his enterprise of dis
covery. and that a holy crusade was to
be the consummation of those divine
purposes, for which he considered him
self selected by heaven as an agent. 1t
shows how much his mind was elevated
above selfish and mercenary views
how it was filed with those devout- and
heroic schemes, which in the time of the
Crusades had infiamed the thoughts and
directed the enterprises of the bravest
warriors and most illustrious princes.