The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-10


nection with the family OF Columbus
The young couple made their home at
first with Mother-in-lRw Perestrello, who
seems not to have been in the least a pro-
totype OF the mueh-caricAtured maternal
relative Of modern times. She was courte-
Gus and patient with her son-in-law and
bravely bore her full share of the family
burden. As book agent Columbus was a
complete failure, mlshap more readily
condoned by his modern admirers
than by the family dependent upon
him for support. His young wife did
not lose courage, however but continually
cited the example OF her worthy
father as evidence that fame and fortune
might hopefully be sought IN another chan
mel. Mother Perestrello also sat before him
the nautical belongings Of her late husband,
together with many valuable manuscripts,
and they both encouraged him 20 acquaint
himself with all the details OF the important
expeditions and dino vsriss Of the age. Her
father had discovered new lands; why
should not her husband the glrl-wife
argued, and possibly she suggested what she
would do il she were man, especially a
sailor man. If her cheering words did not
incite him TO immediate action they at least
set him 70 thinking.
In the second year of their married life
Columbus and his wife took up their resi-
dsnce in Porto Santo, and IL was there that
Diego, their only child. was born. Pedro
Correa da CunhA, "A navigator of much re-
nown in those days. who had married an
elder daughter Of the Perestrello family,
had succeeded Don Bartolomeo as governor
OF the island. He related his varied expert
encss TO Columbus, showed him bits Of
curiously carved wood and reeds Of enorm-
GUS size that had dritted TO the island from
the west, and they conferred as to the prob
ability of land In the direction from whence
those strange objects came. All his sur
roundings spoke Of voyages and discover
les, aud by degrees Columbus became thor
oughly imbued with desire for adventure
and renoWn.
During this time, by the exercise of bis
skill as a photographer and from the profits
Of occasional short voyages Columbus con-
trived TO maintain his family in comfort in
which undertaking he was doubtless materi-
ally aided by the good management Of his
wife. He was not destined to enjoy such
comfort long, for while Diego was still hI-
tie child, the family circle was broken ny
tue death OF his mother. II was a sad loss
TO both husband and son, and, for a while,
they made a sorry failure of existence with
out her. The wolf not only appeared at the
door, but drove them forth. Discouraged
and disheartened Columbus left Portugal in
1854, taking Diego with him. Dame Ru-
NOR at the time circulated numerous reports
oies, not creditabletto an honorable name,
that have never since been refuted.
The subsequent marital relations Of Co
lumbus form a subject Of much discussion,
IL not of doubt. After leaving Portugal,
and awhile waiting at COrdova, in 1855, the
action Of Ferdinand and Isabella relative to
his proposed voyage Of discovery, he be-
came acquainted with lady OF gentle
birth named Beatrix Enrivuez The his
all In thaF ha FaIt a
psrately In love with her, and that she was
the mother Of his son Fernando. A number
Of writers affirm that she was his lawful
wife, but a careful searching of the records
has failed to bring 70 light a marriage GER
tifcate IN support Of their belief. The will
of Columbus seems also TO discredit
their views. In his last testament
be implores his son Diego "to take
care Of Beatrix Enriquez, mother Of
Don Fernando, my son; TO supply her with
ri that can enable her to live In an honor
able manner, she being a person TO whom
am under such grave obligations; and to do
this TO relieve my conscience, because it
weighs heavily upon my soul. II is not law
full to state here the reason" A plausible
explanation of his failure TO do Justice to this
lady is given in q tumultuous letter that CO.
lumbus wrote to DOna Juana de la Tore in
1900, IN which he stated that he left in
Portugal, when he fled into Spain, a wife
and children whom he had never since seen.
The souvenir Of his deserted family does not
seem TO have sorely afflicted his conscience
The uncertainty concerning his relations
with Beatrix Enriquez has prevented his
canonization by the Church of Rome.
Notwithstanding that to Felpa, his wife,
Columbus owed the Indictment to his
achievements, and to Queen Isabella the
Accomplishments Of them, he apparently
failed 10 appreciate woman's importance in
ths world. In his last will he utterly ig-
nored possible female desce ndants, entailinR
his honors aud estates on the male line of
his family. AT the time of his death 1t
seemed q legacy Of doubtful value, consist
ing mostly of claims against the crown. The
present representative Of the house, the
Duke Of VerAguas, receives an income Of
$50 900 a year. derived from the revenues
of Cuba and Porty Rico. He traces his de-
scsnt through Isabella, third daughter OF
Diego and Maria do Toledo. his wife. Their
son, Cuts, was a cousoienceless scamp, who
at one time had three living wives for
which excess Of matrimonial zeal he was
exiled from Spain. He died leaving nc
legitimate male heirs and after considerable
skirmishing on the part of disqualified male
descendants, the title was given to Don
Nuno Gelves, grandson of Isabella and
great-great-grandson OF Christopher and
Felipa Columbus. In the end the "bettel
half has triumphed.
In the four centuries that Felipa has slept
in the silent tomb many danes of noble
birth have been proud to unite their fort
unes with the house OF Columbus Among
them all not one has done it greater honor
than did the mother of the race-Mrs
Christopher Columbus.
HARRIET HENRY