The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-30

come when I, too, shall be looked up to,
and people will come for miles to eat
their luncheons over my grave"
Little did he know then that his ashes
would be shipped back and forth be-
tween Spain and the West Indies every
time there was revolution in Cuba for
half century.
1t was now settled that Columbus
should undertake the discovery of Amer
lea, but he needed capital. He must
cooperate with some one who had
means. Ho first approached the senate
of Genoa. His application was referred
to the committee on Indian affairs. The
paper read us follows:
TO tho Honorable Senate OF Geron:
GENrLEMEN-lt has occurred to INC that II
wo are going To discover America it is high
time we should 20 about it. If we delay, Eng
i;inu vii! do 1t and get her name in the papers
AT the present time nm out OF employment
and could 20 Ii had tho means. have IL chart
left Inc by my futhcr-iu-law which l am sure
Will aid mo in discovering America and max
ing of 1t n popular resort for sporadic cholera
and any overproduction of leprosy or crime
which may DO seeking outlet in n new
country.
If you should not tit to aid me in opening
up new world, which will hold its exposition
John ii. who has already partially promised
to fit mo out and also to keep my fainily in
groceries during my absence.
Trusting that you will take hold of this mat
ter. authorizing not only to discover
America, but anything else l can lay my
bands on. remain, your obcdicnt servant
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
Care Lotos club. Genoa.
The senate fooled along from day to
day with this matter, tabling it, refer
ring it. postponiny it, reporting adj
versely and recommittng it to other
committees till Columbus got weary and
went TO John ii. who treated him the
same way, only worse, inviting friends
in on Columbus days to hear this great
original rainbow chaser" go on about
what he could do if he could only get
money enough 10 discover America.
Let us pass over this sad era in the life
of Columbus. 1t is too pathetic to dis
cuss. He was on his oars, as Tascareli
said at the time. and earning nothing.
Ho was well fitted for the position to
which ho aspired, but there was SO little
demand then for discoverers that ho
was well nigh discouraged. This should
teach us that we must fit ourselves for
something for which there is II demand.
1t is true that the glory of discovering
world is something, but it comes too
late to be used us collateral at the bank.
10 have Il large variety of attention four
hundred years aftcrward is good
thing-better than to be forgotten-but
1T does not surround tho children with
all wool underwear at the time
Indignant ut Portugal, and left IL wild
over ut an carly ago with one son and
no money Whatever. this sorrowful adj
vance agent OF freedom and prosperity
this sad eyed prophet of happy and we'll
protected ndustry-dropped down hope
lessly III tho Franciscan Convent Of St.
Mary's of Rabida, in Andalusia, worn
and weary, sorrowfnl and Respondent.
The prior, who was leading II very busy
lifc absolving ferdinand and Isabella
twice IL week, took Columbus to these
monarchs and also put him up at the club
for two weeks.
Columbus spoke about how we'll the
queens dress was draped, and admired
it so much tiat he was asked to come
and drive with them Oh Friday and
meet IL we'll known English author, WHO
was iii town over night with view to
writing II book Oh it.
The great navigator made good i,n-
preston on both sovereigns, and ere long
they had agreed to fit out three catboats
for the work
Ferdinand had no means at hand, how
ever, except an English breechloadinS
gun, a red setter and Il pair of high rub
Der boots. Isabella also reported the
treasury to be insolvent, bat she was q
woman OF great resources at Such times
and although, as a matter of fact, the very
throne she sat on was being paid for il
weekly installnents, she gave music les
sons, gave readings from her own works
and ran ei'rands till she had the money.
COlunDns took it with tears and
went at once to have his picture taken
When not discovering America this was
his sole recreation. Every time he
shaved Or cut his hair he had n cabinet
picture taken of himself in n new at
titude.
Getting steamer chair near the place
where his picture was taken, he went
aboard the boat at once, and was soon
mere speck on the horizon.
On the 18th Of October, 1902, after
long wet tramp over an unknown sea,
man came down into the Storage, where
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