Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-10-26
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.

honor of centenary ycommemoratlont than
the illustrions dIscoverer of the New
Christopher Columbus. In
every way he is worthy of grateful re-
pembrance. He was not only cour-
aeeous pioneer of discovery, but a man
of the noblest character. Not faultless
indeed, but of such generous nature
that his errors are speedily forgiven
on account of the transcendant lustre
of his virtues and the incalculable i'm
portance of his wO-k. The fetes at
Genoa and at Huelva, are but the be
ginning of still grauder international
festivities in his honor.
Many errors concerning Columbus
have been recited within the past few
years. 1t is no longer reasonable to
Disguise the place Of his birth, or the
precise position of his family IN the so
cial scale He was born about the wear
1893, not in Genoa, bat IN the neigh
boring town OF Sayona where, accord
ing to documents recently discovered
by that indefatigable historian, the
Marquis StaglienO of Genoa, documents
verified in every particular by the
writer Of this article-his family for
reasons of economy had taken a house,
whilst their own in Genoa itself was
let to friends possibly IN the same line
of business as themselves. The family
of Columbus, who were woollen man
uiacturers and dyers, and not wool
carders, as has been heretofore stated,
did not remain long in Savoua, aud
their illustrious child, who was the
eldest of four children, was brought to
Genoa, presumably when he had at
tanned his fourth year. The family
lived in an ancient, house, still standing
IN the POrtorio-or Porta AuTea "a
lOug, steep street leading from the
gate Of st. Andrea to the Church of
st. Stefano, and mostly inhabited by
merchants engaged IN the sale OF wool
and the manufacture of woollen ma
terials Not far from them lived in the
same thOrOughfare, for instance, the
dyer Paul of Now, who subsequently
became Doge of Genoa, and the doc
uments recently discovered IN Genoa,
which threw much tight on the early
years of Columbus, prove satisfactorily
that whatever property the family pos
sessed belonged to the mother, a Fon-
t.uurOssa, aud the only daughter 1t
would appear of fairly well-to-dO
dyer.
Playing about the Port and along
that faycrite resort OF Genoese urchins
the Mure della STeghe, or the
Witches Wall, the boy Columbus
must soon have become Imbued with a
love OF adventure, and of that sea
which st. etched before his delighted
vision, the deepest and hluest of seas,
the Mediterranean, across the horizon
OF winch the gulleys of the rich Repub-
lie came and went in mysterious sue
Cession, objects Of singular attraction
and speculation to 50 imaginative a
child. 1t was All age of mystery and
adventure. People were beginning to
read more generally than heretofore
and everybody was full of theories
concerning the shape Of the earth and
the existence of marvellous lands be-
yond the Pillars OF Hercules. We can
imagine tue child, Christopher, listen
ing with eager face to the tales of the
sailors who hOcked, then rs now, under
the dark arches of the Ripa where IN
the little cavern.like ships, lighted 10y
the flicker Of the lamps burning before
the Madonna, they chRttered over their
wine and business and filed the mind
of the ImpresslOnable youth with Wis
ions of lands, the mountains whlcE
were Of gold and the rivers, literally
flowing with milk and honey, flowed
over beds paved with silver and pearl.
Gradually the determination to de-.
cover these happy lands developed in
the mind of the boy, and he applied
himself to study with rare zeal. We
will pass over the well-known story OF
his early career, pass over the oft told
tale OF his vain endeayors to persuade
his Jealous contemporaries that there
was something beyond human knowl.
edge about him, and pause for d
moment with him at the gate of the
little Convent of La Rabida. Surely
never was there a more pathetic scene
than this of the wOrn-Odt traveller with
the little child sleeping in his arms
pleading foT a nights rest III Ons Of the
cells of the humble sons of St Fran
els. On his reception by the Frial
hung not only his own fate, but tht
fate OF millions as yet unborE-tht
discovery Of the New World. The
traveller Is received with open arms
the tired child Is laid tendeTly to rest
and the CHEEKY voice Of the worthy
Prior, Juan Perez, bids Columbus, {
cordial and practical welcome.
He Introduces hIm to the enterpris
ing brothers PluzOus, who aided him sc
considerably with their wealth in hl.
gigantic enterprise The Convent d
La Rabida is one OF the most Impor
tant places mentioned in the world
history, and as We write there Is al
idea of erecting near the old shrine (
splendid temple dedicated to God, t
the patron saint OF Columbus, st
Christopher, in the expenses OF which
the peoples of all nations and creeds
are 10 be invited to share.
In the beginning Of August, 1892
four hundI ed years ago, the little flee
of three vessels-the Santa Maria, " the
"Piuta, and the Nina, - sailed ou
of the placid harb0T of Palos. Thest
three ships, sailing as consorts, flew
the flag of CASTLE at the mainnast AM
that of the admiral at the mizzen. Tht
first was divided into four squares, two
red and two white. the latter eacl
bore a hon and the others a castle
These were the arms OF CASTLE. Thos,
OF AragOn were excluded by the order
of Queen Isabella, the government o
that country having refused TO paTtIci
pate IL the eXpens s OF the eGpedi
ton. The admIraIs flag was a white
pennaut with a green cross between
initials of the names of Ferdinand ant
Isabella, who had given these arms t,
Columbus. A cross was painted OF
the sails Of the ships, according to tn
custom Of the Spanish and Portu-
guese, in order to distinguish thei
vessels from those OF the infdels.
Fortunately for posterjty, Columbu
Kept diary, recording every even
which took place on his memorable
journey. Needless. therefore, to ente
into particulars of a VOYAGE whicl
should be familiar to all. 1t is almos
impossible, however, for US to con
celve the intensity of the mental straiI
endured by Columbus from the hou
he left PalOs un'1l the memorabl
morning of October u. 1882. when, a
sunrise, the beautiful island of Sal
Salvador rose to the amazed vision o
the discoverer and his companions, hkt
glittering emerald out of the quiet
waters of the West Indian Archipelago