The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-17
COIUM " us.
Anniversary OF tho first Event winch Leo 10
the Discovery of America.

Anniversary OF tho first Event which Led to
the Discovery of America
This dav. the 18th day Of April, is the ami
versary of the first of the important events IN
the life of Columbus in the year 1892. which
eliminated in the discovery Of America on
| the 18th day of October Of that year.
Nothing would be moro appropriate or In
/ teresting than 10 give synopsis OF the lie OF
Columbus but his career was 80 eVentiui
/ that il is almost impossible TO give reasona-
| BILE history of him in short space. Column
hus was born IN Genoa IN 1885 or '36, the ex
| act date being uncertain. When very young
! he left school to follow the sea, and soon be-
came engaged with corsair. whose principal
| business seemed 10 have been the capture OF
merchantmens' galleys. la this he had some
very sharp experiences. asa capture was rarely
made without hard fight. Leaving the sea
for while. he married and settled down IN
Lisbon where ayailing himself OF his mother
in-law's library aud the charts of her. de-
ceased husband. he commenced the study OF
cosmography, and here first conceived the
idea that the earth. was round: This belief
he conveyed to Paulo Toscanelli and received
his heartlest encouragement.
Believing that he could reach Cipango or
Japan ana the territory of the Great Is han by
sailing west, he first proposed the expedition
TO the Council of Genoa. who declined to re-
ceive this offer of O new world.
He next showed his scheme 10 Prince John
of Portugal. whose favorable opinion was
oyerruled by State Council on Geograph-
ical Affairs. The bishop OF Cuta. however,
encouraged Prince John. and he private
ly started an expedition TO discover
the new world in his own behalf, but
his sailors became terrified at the idea and put
back to port. Columbus was naturally very
indignant at this underhand move OF Prince
John and so quit Lisbon, and persons were
mean enough 10 say he did so because he
could not pay his debts, cOsmography not
being very conducive to financial pros
perity He then sent his brother
Bartholomew TO England 20 lay
his plan before King Henry the VII, while he
himself in 1884 went TO Spain. There he was
encouraged by the Duke OF MedinaSidonis.
who offered him three or four ships which
were in port ready Tor sea, but which were
withheld In order TO obtain the consent OF the
Spanish sovereign 10 make discoveries 80 I'M
portant In his disappointment he was about
10 90 to France, when he was sum
moned by Queen Isabella, who had heard
OF his hopes TO attend her court at Cordoya.
The war against the Moorish infdel of Gre
NADIA kept him following the court from
place to place, endeavoring 10 secure an au-
dence until 1887, when his plan was referred
TO junta of church dignitaries, who over
whelmed the reasonings OF Columbus by
texts and quotations from the Scripture,
ccndemning Columbus plan. This decision
the King and Queen confirmed. In theimean-
time Bartholomew Columbus had on his way
TO England been captured by pirates and rob-
bed of all his valuables. so that 1t was some
time before he could get money enough 10
enable him TO make an appearance at icourt.
King Henry gave him the most favorable au-
dience that had been accorded by any sover-
eign to whom the plan OF this great discovery
was unfolded
Columbus. digusted with his want Of sue
cess in Spain, set out for France. and one
evening as he was nearing Paios with his son
Diego he stopped by the Monastery OF La
Rabida and begged crust Of bread and some
water for his boy. The Prior Juan Perez
soon discovered that Columbus was some
! thing more than a cracked brain adventurer,
and so detained him at the monastery and
sent for Garcia Fernandez, Martin AlODza
PinzOn and other experienced navigatOrs. 70
whom Columbus explained his views and
plans so as not only to entertain but TO con-
vert them thoroughly to his views.
Pinzon offered TO pay the expenses Of n re-
newed apDrication TO the Crown. while the
Prior Perez. having been at one time the
Queens confessor. fearing that Columbus
plans might be secured by some other SOW
ereign. wrote TO the Queen and was sum-
moned TO her presence. He went and sue
ceeded in securing audience for Columbus.
and sufficient money 10 provide himself with
mule and decent apparal. Arriving at
the court. Columbus was fayorably re-
ceved Persons in the royal confidence
were appointed to negotiate with him. but
Ferdinand. still regarding his scheme as nm
sound. was shrewd enough to appoint some
of the men who had before denounced his
plans Columbus stpulations were declared
unreasonable. but he Teiased 10 moderate his
terms. The negotiations were ended and
sadly remounting his mule Columbus again
turned his back upon the court. Among
his friends was Luis de ST Angel, who,
believing in the possibility Of the discovery,
went again to the Queen and by cntreates.
reproaches and appeals TO her desire for
wealth fame and boundless domain finally
induced Isabella TO recall Columbus.
The King still objected. but Isabella de-
clared, Il undertake the enterprise for my
own crown of CASTLE and will pledge my
jewels to raise the necessary funds"
The terms finally agreed upon with Column
bus were that small feet should be fitted
out under his command; that he should DO
appointed perpetual and hereditary admiral
and viceroy of all the seas and lands that he
should discover and have One-tenth OF all the
profits arising from the same irrevocably set
tied upon him and his heirs forever, and that
all controversies and lawsuits with re-
spect. 10 commercial transactions were
10 be determined by him alone or by
his lieutenant, provided that the High Ad-
miral of CASTLE had similar jurisdiction in
his district. Being twtted by some person
present that ne incurred no risk. he offered
10 advance one-eighth of the sum Necessary.
provided that he received that proportion of
the gains resulting from the adventure. This
he actually did and so became financial pro-
moter of the enterprise
All of these conditions were finally agreed
upon between their Catholic Maiesties and
Columbus on the plain of Santa Fe on the 18th
of April, in the year of our Lord 1892. exactly
AGO years ago.
Mozart Musicale
The lovers OF good vocal music will enjoy
II In a z -.