Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-08-04
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.


CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
Interesting New Documents Respecting
His Life and Character.
The discovery by the superintendent
of the Military Archives of Madrid of
documents, probably setting at rest the
doubts that formerly existed as to the
birthplace of Columbus, must have
awakened new interest in the history
of the most renowned discoverer of the
past 1t is to be noted, however. that
the documents only affirm tradition, for
Genoa has always been the admiraI'S
accredited birthplace. But if the dis
covery should lead to nothing but a
more careful investigation of the rec
ords of his later history, 1t will have
been of use.
The character of Columbus has been
greatly misunderstood. and his six hun
dred biographers have in turn invested
him with the glory of the religious
hero and the contumely of the ill-tem-
pered and crack-brained adventurer.
An impartial critic must admit, indeed,
that he was something of both, though
more of the hero than the adventurer,
and that his biographers have erred
considerably in what Mr.. r L Steven
Educated, as it is supposed, in the
local schools Of Genoa, and for short
period at the university of Pavia, the
youthful Columbus must have come in
contact with the scholars of the day.
Naturally of religious temperament,
the piety of the learned would early
impress him, and to this may possibly
be attributed the feeling that he had
RSen divinely selected, which remained
with him until his death
There is little doubt that he began his
career as a sailor, at the age of four
teen, with the sole object of plumber.
The Indies were the constant attraction
| for the natives of Venice and Genoa: .
| the Mediterranean and the Adriatic We're
| filed with treasure ships. In these cir
cumstances it is not to be wondered that
the sea possessed wonderful fascina-
cion for the youth of these towns This
opulence was the constant envy of
| Spain and Por tugal, and Columbus was
soon attracted to the latter country by
the desire of Prince Henry to discover
| a southern route to the Indies It was
while in Portugal that he began to be-
| lieve that his mission on earth was to
| be the discoverer OF a new route to the
land of gold-''the white mans god"
| For ten years he resided in Lisbon, from
time to time to time making short voy-
ages, but for the most part engaged
drawing maps to procure himself a liv-
ing. Here he married. here his son
Diego was born, and here his wife,
who died, at an early age, was buried
Toscanello at this time advanced the
theory that the earth was round, and
| Columbus at once entered into CORE
y, H.
was greatly impressed with the views
| of the Florentine scientist, both as 10
the sphericity of the world and the
wonders OF the Asiatic region. Heresy-
hunting was then a favorite pastime,
and Columbus, in acceptings these the
/ cries, ran no small risk of losing his
| life Portugal and France in turn re-
| jected his offers to add to their depend
encies by discoveries, and though his
brother found many in England willing
| to give him the necessary ships to start
on his adventures, Spain, after much
importuning on the part of the explorer,
| foresta1led our own country.
Then followed his four eventual voy-
ages with all their varying fortunes,
! and his death, when over seventy years
of age, in wretched condition of pow
erty. The ready consideration Of the
cries, not only dangerous, but so as
founding in their character as to throw
discredit on those who advanced them,
| shows him to have been man of intel
lectual courage. Humility was another
trait of his character, and in an his life
it cannot be said that he acted in any
but an honest and straightforward
manner toward his fellow men
1t is true, no doubt. that his recogni-
ton of slavery somewhat dims his rep
utation He sold many Indians as
slaves but it should be remembered
that slavery prevailed at the time, aRA
| 1t was only on his second voyage when
hard pressed for means TO reimburse
the Spanish treasury for the immense
expense of the expedition, that he re-
sorted to the barter in human flesh
indeed, his friendly relations with the
natives show that as rule he must
! have treated them in the Kindly man
ner which characterized all his Gctions-
Throughout the reverses Of his long
career, whether received with sneers,
Landed as benefactor of his country,
put in chains by crafty fellow subjects
| or defrauded by an inscriptions prince
of the profits of his discoveries, he con-
| tinued man of an eminently lovable
character, kind to his family, his ser
wants and even his enemies Americans
are to do honor at the Columbian exhi-
| bition to the name OF him who, though
| not the first white man to land Gl the
| shores of the new world, was the first
to colonioe Its fertile islands Not only
| America but the whole world may
emulate his virtues with advantage;
for, even now. justice and mercy, cOur-
age and meekpess do not always abide
| observation-disclosures Times
| Lady (engaging servantl-"Have
you any references?- Raw Country
Girl-''What be them. Usarmg Lady
''why, can you tell me any people who
know your character? Raw Country
] Girl (grinning1-'Yes. surely; but
| bean't 50 silly as to tell re!--Puneh.