Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-25
THE COLUMBUS RELICS
The Convent of La Rabida to Be Re-
produced in Chicago.
MIR. CURTIS COLLECTION.
The Great Discoverer Had Two Graves-Doth
of Them to BE shown in Repiica-Many
Portraits to BE shown-A welshman said
to Have Preceded Him.
THERE WILL BE A GREAT MANY VERY

YNHERE WILL BE GREAT MANY VERY
- interesting exhibits at the worlds fair, but
none viii be more 30 than the collection Of Co
iumbiana now being gathered together by Mr..
William E. Curtis. Visitors to the fair whose
lives are closely intortwined with the mechani-
cal arts may fail to realize the value of the
treasures included in the Columbiana aggrega-
ton and the enthusiastic agriculturist may
glance listsessly at its historical wealth.
but the general public will appreciate the
good things which wideawake minds and
busy hands are preparing for the great display
OF 1893. The historian will revel in the feast Of
fat things, and the student Of American history
VIII have an opportunity TO see for himself
what changes the centuries have wrought since
Columbus landed on the western edge of the
Atlantic. Everything connected with the name
OF Columbus that an enthusiastic collector can
secure will be presented to the public gaze.
Not the least of the ma nv features will be the
building in which all these relics and facsimiles
and models will be displayed.
Tue CONVENT OF La RABIDA.
This structureis to be a perfect replica Of the
convent of La Rabida, near Palos. Somebody
wants to know why that building more than
many Others That convent is historical After
columbus had failed TO impress the Spanish
ment the would-be-voyager accompanied bv
his tweiye-year-old boy. departed from the pres
ence Of monarchy and moved homeward on
foot. His route led him past the door of this
convent, and as both he and his son we're
hungry and weary, application was made for
the bread and water which is never refused
traveller.
1t CHANGED that the prior-one Marchena-
saw the couple and he at once recognized the
fact that Columbus was brainy man He in
20
rest themselves. something they did for more
than two years. Now ii SO happened that Prior
Marchena had been confessor to Queen Isabella,
ana when he had heard all of Columbus story
ne decided to push matters along in an eccle-
siastical way.
HOW QUEEN ISABELLA WAS WON OVER.
He rode to see the queen and in a little
while secured not only the restoration of
Columbus to sovereign favor. but also got an
appropriation to aid the Genoese in fitting out
for his voyage. Mr.. Curtis has a number of
photographs OF this convent and from these
and from carefully written descriptions the
building viii be reproduced in Chicago. When
the structure, which is fine specimen of Span
ish architecture of the thirteenth century is
complete IT will be used as the Headquarters of
the Latln-American department and as the
temporary home o. Columbus relics. In the
convent chapel 1t is proposed to place piano.
rama illustrative of the life of Columbus.
NAM
The best historians assert that no likeness Of
Columbus was ever painted, sketched or en-
grayed; but in spite of those assertions Mr..
Curtis has gathered together thirty-four por-
traits or alleged portraits of the daring vow
ager. Some of these were evidently drawn to
mt published descriptions of Columbus while
Others must have been painted from memory
by men who never saw the distinguished ex-
plorer. For some of these represent ,ions a
good deal q claimed md
Is testimony OF "A somewhat uncertain kind that
the lanez portrait, now in the national gallery
at Madrid, was painted when Columbus re-
turned to Spain from bis second voyage.
Totally dissimilar from the figure on the
ianez canvas is the Venitian Mosaic portrait.
which shows Dutch head-a fhort broad
face-crowned with three-cornered can DE
Bry claims that this portrait was painted from
life by order of King Ferdinand. Washington
Irving was a firm believer in the genuineness
OF the Mosaic picture. In the collection Column
bus Is represented in many different postures
and styles of garb. The Jovins picture has
him as monk; De Bry engraved him
at ful length on the deck of a
standing the historical egg on end: in the Jo-
mard picture, which it is claimed was painted
by Titan, Columbus has Flemish ruff. pointed
beard and great gold chain; another present.
ment artist unknown. has the discoverer clad
as a familiar Of the Inquisition. The variety is
wonderful. Columbus som etimes n clean
shaven, sometimes has an angular beard, occa-
slonally wears a mustache and imperial. His
hair Is straight, wavy and curly. In
at least three prints he wears armor and in one
mas close-httlng yestment trimmed with fur
Busts are quite plentiful and many of them are
very good. Persico carved out the figure of
Columbus which is OIL the east front of the
Capitol. but historians say the result of Mr.
Persicos labors is without real merit and has
no claim to notice.
MAPS OF THAT DAY.
To some people the photographs Of rare maps
will be more interesting than the portrait lot
tory. Leonardo da Vinci drew the first map in
which the name America was used. Leonardo
was great artist on his time but he could not
now pass a civil service examination
as draughtsman at $500 The map is
highly valued. however, and is one
OF the gems of Queen Nictoria's private collec-
ton al Windsor Castle. Another fac simiIe
Will be that Of the famous map drawn in 1900
by Juan &c la Cosa, Who was a pilot on Column
bus vessel Cosa, in this map, represents
columbus as 81. Christopher bearing the in
FAINT Christ to the new world.
The most important of the earlier mans of
this hemisphere is the one drawn in 1854 by |
Pilot Marstea Cesarea; this portrays the coast
as 1t then appeared from Labrador to the /
Straits of Magellan.
In this collection will also be the first en- |
grayed map of America-the first in which the |
existence Of Brazil is indicated. The youngest |
republic was then known TERRA Santa Cruz |
The Ptolemy map looks a good deal like a |
misshapen squash. In this America is sadly |
displaced, having been located in the south |
west.
When Columbus sailed from Spain in search |
OF the western land he provided himself with /
a small library few books kept in his cabin. |
One of these, ID Ailly's Imagine mundi," has |
marginal remarks written on many of the |
pages; the handwriting is that of Columbus
The first suggestion of the name America" |
was publicly made in the Cosmographic Intro
ductio published in 1907. A fac simile of the |
page in question will be on exhibition.
wELsHMAN WHO PRECEDED coLUMBus
1t is extremely probable that the great ma
jority Of those who dwell within the limits of
the United States are of opinion that Columbus
was the first white man to set foot on this con- /
tinent. This opinion, according to historians.
is decidedly incorrect, but there is more than
q little diversity Of opinion as to the original
nationality on this side OF the Atlantic
Mr.. Curtis introduces some testimony in the
shape OF fac SMILES of two pages of David
Powelfs History of Cambria. This history was
translated in 1884 from the Welsh of 200 wears
previous. In these pages Prince Llewellyn
Aadoc is shown to have landed on American
soil In ITO. These two pages state that
Llewellyn prepared certaine ships with
men and munition, and sought adyen-
lures by seas, sailing west, leaving the
coast OF Ireland so far north that D.. c.,s1. A. :.