The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-10-24
A TALK WITH COLUMBUS
How Tom Watson PIacated the Old
Navigator.
DIDN'T DISCOVER THE U. S.
Somewhat Interested In the People of
Chicago Never was "a saint or a
Pirate for Obvious Reasons.

Tom Watson sat in window on West
minister street all FRIDAY foreno IN an,
saw the parade go by. Then he sat ther,
again and saw the evening parade unit
his head swan and he could see in ever,
moving vehicle and hear in The clatter o.
every horses hoofs, marching myrads
Tom was tired and so he went down towI
before going to bed and got a lunch in
both liquid and solid form.
Aft smoking "A cigar and chatting
Il while, he returned To his room, but all
the way the idea OF marching columns
and of Columbus haunted him, espec-
| tally the picture of the old dscoverer, as
shown on the floats, with sunken cheeks
and long white hair.
Tom got into bed, and was soon in a
| troubled sleep-troubled by too much
! lunch, liquid and solid. He dreamed
| dreams or olden times, gay Spanish
courts and -stranEcty-dressed men and
women, and naked Indians He felt the
! Dalmy Dreezes OF the south upon his
brow. lie hid forgotteL to shu5 the
window.
Suddenly from out the shadows tall
figure stalked. His eyes were sunken
anl his hair long aud wni,e and the latter
feature reminded Tom that IL must he
Columbus Now, Tom was brave aud he
the old fellow. He asked him what he
thought OF he parade.
IL was much Pleased" said the appari-
tion IN hollow voice. especially with
the children. What host of young
Americans are growing up! don't like
your ways or your city, though. 1t is
very odd To me-"
The Uni ed States is under great obi
aiions 10 you. sir, said Tom.
We'll, what for?' replied Columbus.
II would rather see the country like the
south. What havs | to do with the
United States? l didn't discover it. and
never saw it until you people made such
racket that came to see what the row
was
When YOU speak of the south what do
you etuW asked Tom, for the old fellow
seemed very jolly and easy.
IL mean Mexico and Central America
aud the countries OF South America
replied the old fellow. THAT is the part
of the country which | discovered" "
:" But YOU know that the people OF those
countries are poor. illiterate, always
flShting and in debt, the least progress
sive and the leasi clviliZel in the western
hemisphere" said Tom.
"rhat's all right, but think OF the
money and treasure they have sent to
Europe, t1 spain west on the aged ex-
navigator. You fellows in the United
States always made me tired. if you will
excuse an old saying. You want every
thing for yourselves and seem TO think I
Il scovered this country for YOU Precious
little COOL IL ever did me- Old Ferdi-
nand and Isabella locked me up in chains
because couldn't find more money and
treasure, and | didn't get half IA chance
ell her. IL / had only stayed here aud
not gone b icK to Europe | might have
died in peace at least. No, Sir | don't like
your modern ideas. Old istles, soldiers
marching with royal banners, anl priesis
chanting, those are the things that suit
me and they have them in the South
The people know too much. How 90 Won
suppose ] could have satisfied lot of
Yankees like YOU about that variation of
the needle or made my men believe the
stories of gold If they hadn't been credu
lous and greedy for renown in the ewes of
Catholic Spainy
"Oh, wei, old man." said Tom, 1--WE
don't expect you To like our ways, bat we
honor you for discovering this country.
whether you Set foot in the United states
or not, and we don't care why you discov-
cred it, You did great thing Have a
drink aud n cigary"
Thanks, don't mind" said the old
nan. How well remember the first
time / smoked tobacco. 1t wasn't gotten
up so artistically rs this, but liked il
very much. really think, though, that
you have made some Improvement in Its
why, of course we have" said Tom.
"aad If you would stay long enough we
would convince you that everything is
vastly improved. BY the way, old man,
shall you 20 to Chicago?"
II mean to drop down there for "a short
time ! rather like their uncivilized
ways Those Chicago people would sail
out anywhere To look TOR gold. | could
discover several worlds with such
crew."
Not going yetl" said our friend, as
he saw the old fellow bowin himself out
" By-tne-way, what do you think of the
To make you u saiut?'
Bah That is what makes Inc tired
W hen my men got too ambitious / put
them in irons. When 1 became too am
bilious they did the same to me. l
to get control OF this country, and
got left. | am not whining about my
goodness, but am glad Ferd and Belle
didn't. get IL either The only thing /
like about the English is the way they
got rid of my uugrateful countrymen.
Was l good Catholic? Yes. everybody
was In my time. / was as good Catho-
lie as any of them, aud really felt proud
to discover land for the benefit of my
sovereign, but was looking out for my |
self
Were you ever a pirate ?"
Look here, young fellow. you have |
treated me the best l have ever been |
treated in the western hemisEh here, aud | |
Ike you, but you mustn't get too fresh. |
There were no pirates III my time. and |
you ought to know il. We sailors were
all gentlemen OF honor. We never took
that belonged to u.s."
"Ah i beg your pardon" said Tom.
i see | have wronged you, but didn't |
.hink, myself that you was pirate.
Take IA couple of cigars with you. You
nay want to smoke when you yet home
suppose people smoke there"
Tben the vision closed, aud Tom Wat
ION awoke. IL was 2:30 A. NJ Saturday,
Oct. ~. 1872, and he was cold and Ind "A