The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-22
Z III EXERCISES.

The Part tho Children Took and the Ad-
dresses by Their Elders.
There was a hum in the air, as il the aud
itorium were a vast bee hive, when Supt.
Young raped for order. Not until after
a familiar school song was commenced in
one corner of the auditorium by some
i, it quiet enough for the superintendent to
be heard. After the reading of the presi-
dents proclamation the air of the Colum-
biun March arose from the throatS of the
children and grown people who thronged
the hall, ali standing until the air was fin
ished. Hundreds of small flags in the
hands of the children waved and f1uttered
next in the air ss Il salute to "Old Glory"
followed by the entire audience singing
america" in tones that sounded like some
grand triumphal chorus. Declarations
and recitations by pupils of the Helena
schools followed. 1.-The Meaning of the
-Four Centuries" was delivered by Edward
ney Sanner. Lonnle Mutlley reoited the
American Flag and then followed 1.-The
Red, White and Blue" sung by the schol-
ara. j. u. Sanders, for the Sons of Voter
ans. delivered the following address:
1--WE are assembled to-day to comment
crate one of the~ grandest achievments of
modern, or for that matter of all time.
The accomplishment by Columbus of the
discovery of land on his first voyage from
Spain is not diminished by the fact that 1t
was a western passage to the Indies of
which he WAS in search. The boldness of
this indomitable man can hardly be appre
dated in our times. Born, it is generally
conceded in 1436, though various historians
credit that event to almost every year from
1880 to 1456, and as to the place of his birth
there is even Il wider controversy than over
the immortal Homer.
At the age of 80. or in the year 1874, he
conceived the idea of a northwest passage
to Asia, and with d~isappointments in store
for him for eighteen years at every court,
at which he sought will elogusnce born OF
confidence, endorsement of his views, and
financial aid to carry them to a successful
issue. he pressed his suit. After repeated
applications to the courts of Spain and
Portugal and his native Genoa, until he
was considered a dreamer of most i'm
probable geographical ideas, he had witt
regret determined to geek aid at the cour,
OF France. and had actually started for that
country when urged to return to Spain will
assurances of aid. Ferdinand and Isa-
bella had till now had their minds i'm
mersed in the war with the Moors, and j
had also depleted their treasury. md i
was during this war, while Columbus VIA,
following their court that he had seen thu
colors of spain raised over that Moorish
castle 30 beautifully pictured by Washing
ton Irving.
without following through all the Incl
dents of his four trips across the Atlanti.
we pass to consider somewhat of the WORT,
and time in which he lived. Or
pango and Catha7 were the names by whicl
Japan and China in that day were now
and although Columbus had adopted Ptol
emy's m of the circumference of tn
globe, which had stood the test of nearl
fourteen centuries, and was in reality with
in one-sixteenth of the correct distance a
reckoned today, still with all the lates
charts extant he under estimated tho dis
lance of these countries by nearly the widt'
of the Pacific ocean and our continent com
bined.
This mistake arose from the popula
belief of the times, which was thought t
be verified by the Scriptures, that the In
habited World extended over about Biz
seventns of the circumference of the earth
and in total ignorance of the existence O
another continent, or the Pacific ocean. i
was thought that the eastern shores O
Cipango or Japan, were washed by th
western waves of the Sea of Darkness, int
which Columbus plunged. The acquisition
of the name OF America by the New World
an interesting theme at this time, especial
since to the present day there IL q wild
spread feeling that therein was u dee
wrong lone to Columbus, although when
il appreciated that Columbus lived and die
iii the belief that when he had found wha
afterwards proved &c be n New World h
considered IL the contiuentof Asia, 1t Ia see
how unnatural 1t would have been to en-
deavor to change lts name from Asia I
Columbia.
"Amsrious yespuoei. the leading astron