The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-19

1t was the fortune OF Italy to furnish tho
greatest OF tho dscoverers Of tho New World.
net only Columbus and Vespucci but the Cabots
and NeraZzani. and yet to gain no foothold
for herself whore other nations divided mai es-
tic continents between them. It Ia strange.
too. that up to q recent date the most detailed
biographies Of Columbus have not been the
work OF his own countrymen. Washington
IrvinR's was certainly peerless until Roselly
do Lorgues came with the advantage OF more
modern research. Such at least. is the opinion
OF Prof.. Francisco TARDUcCt who now gives
to Italy an elaborate Life of Christopher CO.
lun,bus. which Mr.. II. +. Brownson has
translated and published iu Detroit. This is
tho best work We have 80 far had" says Tar
ducci in speaking OF IrvirG's history. Il have
made much use OF it. and more than once have
merely followed In It's stems" He also speaks
Of The American Henry Harrisse" as o most
accurate aud learned Investigator OF all that
relates to Columbus"
In q work like the present we NATURAL y
turn first to what is said on the old points Of
controversy. NO fewer than fifteen towns and
villages claim to be the birthplace OF the re-
nowned discoverer OF the New World. Ten or
more OF them are on the Ligurian coast: but
beyond the Apennin IS are Cassorca. Cuccnro
in the Montfcrrat. Pradello near Piaccnza and
lhsrei Is also Calvi in Corsica. spotorno argued
that no place outside the Genoese territory de-
served consideration. aud tho upshot OF
Tarducci's researches is that he WAS born In the
city Of Genoa itself. Yet even since tho publi-
cation OF this present work. the Abb Cash nova,
q Corsicau archRoo.is, has discovered
archives which are thought to sh Nv that
Columbus was born in Calvi and emigra:ed to
Genoa; and 1t is said that an in ,cription Inns
been put on house In the former city as his
birthplace. and that Calvi means to celebrate
with a public holiday the tooth annivers ary
OF the discovery OF America By her illustrious
son. Henry Harrisse. sincs the original
publication OF the present volumes. has been
able to count up eighteen Italian
towns claiming to DO the birthplace oil
Columbus and has amusingly discussed their
prstens.ons. But the claim OF Savcna. not far
from Genoa seemed to him worthy Of srudite
refutation. which he has recently been able to
furnish from documents pre- served at Savona
and relating to the business o. Chri.tophsr' 8
father or course. the wsl-known will oil
Columbus would seem to settle tho whole Ques-
tion In two OF Its phrases: II being born in
Genoa" and since came from and was born
In It, But the authenticity of tbs document
was disputed until Navarrsts came to Genoa =
aid with proofs OF Its gsnuineness. Still. Calvl
or any other claimant may say tina. Columbus
was in error and Americans will re- all that SC
ilustrous man as the late Gen. Sheridan
had always supposed MA birthplace to be In Il
little Ohio town. up to year or two before his
death. when he UNEXPECTEDLY learned that he
FIRST saw the light in Albany. In this State.
The dnte OF the great sailors bilth Is no less
widely disputed than tho place The difference
OF opinion on this point coyers the full quar-
ter of century between 1880 AMI l45j while
between 1895 and l440 every year has had it,
advocate. Prof. Tardu ci thinks tho three
dates OF greatest probability nrs 1896. 1916
and 1886, and OF these prefers tho first. be-
causs 1t rests on tine authority OF Bernaiiez
who had Columbus as guest an mentions
that at his death which occurred In 1906. he
was vsrGing on bis 10th year. And yet still
later than this conclusion OF Tarducci we nov
find Hsrrisse. In the Rspus Historiqur. quo inl
from manuscript dated Oct 80. 1910. rece ut
ly discovered in the Genoa archives, this mem
orandum; Chrstofforus do Coiumbo. ILLUS
Dominica, major ennis decemaoysm. PUTTING
this with sundry other facs Harris 10 reGar Is II
as certain that Columbus could not have beor
born before l44i. nor alter 1851. with the prob
ability that his birth took place between
March rs. l446. and March ~. l44T.
Stillanother dis puted point concerns tho early
life and education o! Columbus Three Of his
fellow countrymeu aud contomporEies' Ha'li
Giustiniani. and Sanarega agree that he was
taught only the c!emsntnrY branches an
GALL says that he worked At to ir'l, oil hiA
father, Domenico. WHO va - wool ca der
Eut IsrnaGdp the yornsr 20 TAO goa
Admiral. who wrJ'e a nl.i e. of his father.
which was marred by erorts - snsd lustre On
his obscure origin. says he studied at Pavis.
From that single. guarded phrase mas sprung
the theory that he was student at the uni