The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-16


CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AS A YOUNG
MAN.
was ruddy from exposure; his eye,
were keen and bright, he had an aqui
line nose, and his jaw projected slight
ly. His hair was already turning gray
at thirty it was quite white. Naturally
he was of fiery and impetuous temper
ament, but by strength of will held
himself in excellent control
Added to his personal attractions was
the adOrnment of pious mind, which
led him to attend religious services
daily at the chapel of the convent OF
All Saints. There the pretty Felipa de
Perestrello said her prayers, and il
may be conjectured that her eyes wan
dered occasionally from her beads to the
face Of the Italian stranger. He, too,
perhaps, was not as absorbed in his de-
votions to Our Lady as casual OBJ
server might suppose. Evidently the
/ bright-eyed Italian-P Portuguese maiden
won his admiration, and from the sly
/ glances they progressed to salutations,
/ then to tender vows, which led to the
! plighting of their troth. Just how long
/ the little intrigue was carried on under
! the eyes of the prayerful nuns without
! detection is not known, but it is certain
| that the young people did not lose
! much time in wooing, for in 1913 Dona
Felipa became Mrs. Christopher Column
bus.
The marriage was, without doubt, a
love match, for neither of the contract
ing parties possessed many worldly
goods The brides dover consisted of
a small property in Porto Santo. Co
lumbus had stout heart and a will
ing hand" The Perestrellos were of
distinguished lineage, whereas Colum-
bus was of humble origin; but that fact
seemed to have weighed lightly with
the fair Felipa, which is another proof
of the disinterestedness of her affection,
for among the patrician Italians of that
day pedigree was of the utmost impor-
lance. Subsequent events have, how
ever, amply justified the love-sick lady's
disregard of prevailing customs, and in
the lapse of time the name of Peres-
trello has not suffered from its connec-
ton with the family of Columbus.
The young couple made their home at
first with Mother-in-Law Perestrello,
who seems not to have been in the least
a prototype of the much-caricatured
maternal relative of modern times. She
was courteous and patient with her
son-in-law and bravely bore her full
share of the family burdens. AS book
agent Columbus was complete failure,
a mishap more readily condoned by his
modern admirers than by the family
dependent upon him for support. His
young wife did not lose courage, how
ever, but continually cited the example
of her worthy father, as evidence that
fame and fortune might hopefully be
sought in another channel. Mother
Perestrello also set before him the nau-
teal belongings of her late husband,
together with many valuable manu-
scripts, and they both encouraged him
TO acquaint himself with all the details
Of the important expeditions and dis
coveries of the age. Her father had dis
covered new lands; why should not her
husband? the girl-wife argued, and
possibly she suggested what she would
do If she were a man, especially sailor
man. If her cheering words did not in
cite him to immediate action they at
least set him to thinking.
In the second year of their married
life Columbus and his wife took up their
residence in Porto Santo, and it was
there that Diego, their only child, was
born. Pedro Correa da Cunha, navi-
gator of much renown in those days,
who had married an elder daughter of
the Perestrello family, had succeeded /
Don Bartoloneo as governor Of the ISL |,
and. He related his varied experiences /
to Columbus, showed him bits of Gu
riously carved wood and reeds of enor- |
nous size that had drifted to the island /
from the west, and they conferred as to
the probability Of land in the direction I
from whence those strange objects /
came. All his surroundings spoke of I
voyages and discoveries, and by degrees I
Columbus became thoroughly imbued .
with desire for adventure and renown.
During this time, by the exercise Of
his skill as photographer and from the
profits of occasional short voyages, Co
lumbus contrived to maintain his fam
lily in comfort. in which undertaking
he was doubtless materially aided by
the good management OF his wife. He
was not destined TO enjoy such comfort
long. for while Diego was still little
child, the family circle was broken BY
the death Of his mother 1t was a sad
loss to both husband and son. and for
awhile they made sorry failure of ex-
lStence without 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 Rumor al the
time circulated numerous reports con-
corning unpaid bills and other
delinquencies, not creditable to an hon.
orable name, that have never since
been refuted