Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-01
PORTRAIT OF COLUMBUS.

But" said another. Il always thought that
Columbus was born at Genoa have seen upon
the square Of Aquaverde the statue which that
city erected to the most illustrious of its chill
dren; guide even showed me the house in
which the event occurred
Yes, replied the first speaker. there are
two houses which are said to have sheltered the
hrs: days Of Columbus. The Genovese aca-
dsmicians discovered one in 1872 in the little
street of de Molcento. and in 1855 NJ. Stagliero
found another-no less authentic-in the Carog-
gio Dritto. Both of these houses seem TO have.
indeed, belonged to a Domenico Colombo: 1t
IL proven. or nearly SO; but was he the father
Of Christopher? Nothing is more doubtful
There were persons by the name of Colombo
ut Genoa. at Savona, at Bordighiera. at Albano.
ut Sampferdarena, at Sestrl. at Rivaroio. at
Leicha, at San kemo-everywhere No name
was more widely scattered.
There were. then. evidently in the Genovese
territories other persons by the name Of Co
lombo than the father Of Christopher. and all
the historical houses that one can point out to
the tourist are not worth the document OF
authenticity And although Savons and sew
oral places OF Llgurla put themselves In the
ranks a. claimants for the honor. like Genoa,
they bring for ward only af1irmations of a vague
character. or documents which do not even
furnish q basis for u reasonable probability"
Then you think. said an Englishman, that
Columbus was born In Corsica!
Yes. at Calvi; and If you will give me your
attention viii be able to show you the most
cor vincing proofs"
Very willingly" said the Englishman; ''but
how does it happen that he came to be known
as a Genovese II he was from Caivi2"
The Corsican did not hesitate for q reply.
He turned TO his questioner eagerly:
You will first notice that his turbulent and
cosmopolitan life rendered it almost impossible
TO tx exactly the place of his birth. while. on
the other hand, the municipal rights at Genoa
belonging to the people of Calvi made il very
easy to take one OF them for q Genovese. Then,
toe. the jealousy Of Genoa has been able, when
II vas necessary, not only to favor but to i'm
pose this error upon the public"
But Why did he never make known himself
his native country
To that i will answer that tradition repre-
SCENTS Christopher Columbus as a man whom re-
spect did not allow easily to be Intercepted,
anG for his own part he spoke only SO far as
was necessary But there was a graver reason
for this silence For sixty years the people of
Calyi had been at with the King OF ARA
gou, and its marine struggled for nearly a CEN
tury against this hereditary enemy. Columbus
himself saw his first service against Spain. But
We know that by the force Of. circumstances
Christophsr was compelled to pray the court of
Spsin that Ferdinand should give him Justice;
We know that his children made the same APP
phcatlon In their turn, and that at one time
Sney we've compelled TO have recourse to the
tribunals 20 make the king observe the articles
OF the contract which had been made with their
fafner One can easily understand. then. that
70 take the name OF native of Calvi at the
court OF Arragon would have been a most i'm
prudent thing"
But. said another, 'if CHRISTOPHER Co ..r.T,-
eus mad an interest in concealing the fact him
ssn, why II II that the Corsican HISTORIANS have
nos claimed this illustrious MANI