The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-02-05

WAS - lncru>cd AZ being disappointed d
what he conceived his mrritei reward
thar he reauuncel his country and hi
faith. and going into Africa turned Nus
sulman. ~ anectote which rests merely
on the authority VI Ov,edo. who Is "a.
tretneiy Incorrect In ms narration Of thi,
voyage. aud inserts many falsehools
told him by the enemies of the admiral
II may ~ irs, sight appear but little
sccorlant with the acknowledged mag
nanimity u Columbus to have borne
away the prlze from this poor sailor. but
this was = subject in which his whole
ambition Was involved. and he was
doubtless proud Of the honor Of being
personally the discoverer Of the land -
well a. protector u the enterprise
Next 20 the ~countenance shown him
by the king and queen may be mentioned
that b. Pedro Gonzalez de- Mendoza. the
grand cardinal ~ spain anu first subject
u the realm. = man whose elevated char
acter for piety. learning and high prince
like qualities gave signal value 10 his
favors- He invited Columbus to : ban
quet. where he assigned him the most
honorable place At table aud mad him
served with the ceremonials which in
these punctiiious times were observed
toward sovereigns. At this repast q
said to have occurred the well known
anecdote " the egg. A shallow court1ev
present. impatient Of the honors paid 70
Columbus and meanly jealous Of him =
. foreigner, abruptly asked him whether
he thought that. in case be had o dis
covered the Indies. there were not other
men in Spain who would have been c.
pable Of the enterprise To this Columbus
made no immediate reply. but taking m
egg invited the company to make il stand
on y end. Every one attempted it. but
IN vain; ~whereupon he struck il upon
the table 50 a. to break the end and left
it standing on the broken part. i~llustrat-
ing in this simple manner that when be
had once shown the way 70 the New
World nothing was easier than to fol-
low il.
The favor shown Columbus By the
eovereigns insured him for : time the
caresses Of the nobility. For in . court
every n vies with his neighbor in Law
ishing attentions upon the man whom
the king delighteth To honor Colum-
bus bore all these caresses and distinctions
with becoming modesty. though be must
have felt a proud satisfaction il the idea
that they had been wrested. - il were.
from the nation by his courage and per.
One q hardly recognize in
the individual thus made the companion
Of princes and the theme Of general
wonder and admiration the same OBJ
scure stranger VINO but = short time BE-
fore had been N scoff and lest II
very court. derided By some - IN
and pointed at BY Others - :
mailman. Those who had treated him
with contumely during his long course
solicitation now sought to efface the
remembrance Of it BY adnlationA
Every one who had given him . little
cold co1ntenance or . few courtly smiles
now arrogased TO himself the credit Of
been . patron and Of having pro-
moted the discovery Of the New World.
Scarce q great man about the cour but
has been enrolled By his historian or
among the benefactors OF
though had one-tenth part Of
this boosted patronage been really en-.
be would never have had TO linger |
even years soliciting for an armament
three caraveis Columbus knew well
he weakness Of the patronage that had
been given Tin. the only friends men,
Toned ~ him with gratitude IN his
after letters - having been really zeal
Us and effective were those two worthy
'riars. Diego De Deza. afterward bishop
y Paiencia and Seville. and Juran Perex.
he prior 81 the convent Of L. Rabida-
Thus honored by the sovereigns.
by the great. idolized BY the
Columbus for : time drank the
.oneyed draft Of popularity before en-
nifty and d~etraction had time to drug
{ with bitterness His discovery burst
With such sudden splendor upon the
sorld as to dazzle envy itself and to call
the general acclamations OF man
md Well would it be for the honor Of
allure could history, like 70
close with the contamination Of
r. urtss wt1ucs- We tuOulQ k0e0 leave L
Columbus In the full fruition Of great
nd well merited prosperity, but his
istory . destined to furnish another \
roof. II proof b wanting. OF the incon-
fancy Of public favor. ever when won !
y distinguished services No greatness \
as ever acquired by more incontestable. l.
nal!oyed and exalted benefits rendered !
? mankind, yet nom ever drew on
= possesscr more unremitting jea1-
usy and defamation. or involved Kim
, more unmerited distress and difficult
y Thus It il with illustrious merit
> very efulgence draws forth the ran
orous passions Of low and groveling
linds. which too often have tempo !
airy influence in ~obscuring il 10 the
'orld. - the sun. emerging with full
into the heavens, calls up. BY
~ very fervor Of its rays. the rank and Il
oxious vapors. which, for : time, b. :
loud - glory. II
THE END. II