Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-19

LkCiioN Or RELICS THAT WILL BE SLEN
THERE.
A gold mine Of Columbus relics has been un-
earthed by Mr.. W. L. Curtis or his recent Off
cial visit to the Vatican at Rome, to Seville,
Madrid, Genoa Barcelona and other European
cities. and. moreover. arrangements have been
made to transfer the treasures of this mine to
the United States, where the people may gaze
through the dust of 400 years upon these most
precious relics connected with the very earliest
history of this country. The relics are of every
description and character and not least among
them are some of semi-sacred nature which
are beyond and above price which gold could
sutisfy.
As another result of Mr.. Curtis visit there
will come to this country members Of the royal
fnmily Of Spain and the lineal descendants of
Columbus to attend in person tho celebrations
to be made in honor of the man who discov-
cred the land we live in.
Mr.. Curtis sent by the Department Of
State bearing an invitation from the President
of the United States to the Queen of Spain
praying her royal presence at the worlds fair.
He also bore message to the United States
minister at Madrid, directing him to invite
the Duke Of Veragua and his family. the de-
scendants of Columbus, TO attend. At the
same time Mr.. Curtis to rummage the
museums of Europe for Columbian relics and
finding them, to borrow them in true Yankee
fashion for the fair
Mr.. Curtis has accomplished his mission sue
cessfully and returned to Washington. Sitting
in his library at his home last night he dis
coursed pleasantly to STAR man upon the re-
suits of his mission.
RECEIVED BY THE QUEEN.
"The queen regent received me most grac-
cJ,-p ho oo;J
by the minister of the United States and lis
tened attentively to the reading of the Presi-
dents invitation. At its conclusion she ad-
dressed me in very good English in reply to my
speech. which had followed the reading. ex-
pressing her appreciation of the honor which
had been conferred upon her by the President,
which was the more appreciable, she said. be-
cause 1t was the first time woman had been 80
honOred. She had always longed to visit
America and to do would give her the
greatest pleasure. but she regretted that she
probably would be unable to come as the con-
stitution of Spain forbids her leaving the do
mlnIons while she Is queen regent. She said
the President : invitation will be answered in
due form and time and assured me that a rep
resentative of the court will GENE.
1T Is understood that the infanta, who Is the
sister of the late king. will attend the fair. She
Is n very charming woman. widow Of many
cial graces and who speaks English very well.
the Secretary of State. Although a member of
the royal family she is very democratic kind
of parsonage and will doubtless be popular in
this country.
Mr.. Curtis next described his visit to the
Duke Of Veragua. This nobeman is descend
ant OF Columbus IN the fourth generation. He
is prominent parsonage in Spain and man
OF great public spirit, progressive and a leader
in educational matters. The dukes principal
avocation is raising bulls. This is not to be
taken in the vulgar sense of an ordinary, every
day bullraiser, for the bulls that .e rears are
intended for the royal bull fights. He has a
large farm near Toledo and from it sends
about 300 of the majestic beasts to the slaugh-
ter each year He is coming to the fair and
Will probably be accompanied by his brother.
the Marquis of Barboes. his son. Don Christie
val Colon. and his two daughters, one twenty
and one sixteen years of age"
INTERESTING. RELICS OF CoLUMBUS
The relics which Mr.. Curtis found and which
will be brought to this country will form an in
tensely interesting collection. At the British
Museum he discovered some very valuable
books and maps of Columbus discoveries CO.
temporary with him, being published in his
time. Among them Ia a copy of the first edi-
ton of the first book, which was published about
two months after his return, giving Columbus
letter, i'll which he relates in most interesting
detail an account of his voyage. This book was
printed at Barcelona. is the only copy extant
and is valued at $1,000. At the queens castle
at Windsor he found the only known copy of
the first engraved map of America.
At Paris he struck rich lead. In the Ma
tional Library Ill that city there is the finest
collection of maps of America in the world.
Among them is the famous Behaim globe which
was made but few weeks before Columbus de-
parted on his voyage. 1t represents the extent
of the knowledge of geography of that time;
this globe shows China and Japan to be where
Oh l, 4
of the western hemisphere. In this library he
found a precious volume of manuscript. When
Columbus went OF his last voyage he thought
he might not return, and therefore madea COPY
of all his contracts, privileges and commissions
from the Spanish government. This he had at
tested by the royal notary to prove its anthem
ITCHY. and sent it to the Bank Of st. George at
Genoa to be preserved in trust for his heirs.
There it remained until 1903. when Napoleon
carried it TO Paris This is the document that
Washington Irving called the corner stone of
American history.
famous biographers of Columbus. has, valuable
collection of Columbian relics, and Mr.. Curtis
arranged to get them.
4. AN ORIGINAL PORTRAIT
The Duke OF Talleyrand has in his possession
portrait of Columbus. which is claimed to be
original, and this will come also. A gentleman
named Agostini has great iron anchor which
it is said belonged to the caravel in which
Columbus sailed. At Madrid Mr.. Curtis ar
ranged with the Spanish government for the
loan Of all of the papers in the government
archives which relate to Columbus and his
early discoveries. They form priceless col
lection. The Duke of Veragua has nineteen
autograph letters of Columbus and originals of
many contracts and commissions. The Duke of
Berwick Alba and the widow of Gen. San
Roman will loan interesting autograph letters.
At Seville Mr.. Curtis again struck it rich. In
the Columbiana library the three identical
books which Columbus took with him on his
voyage. One of them, a copy of Marco Polo's
travels, another book written by tho Catholic
Cardinal DAILY and the third Ptolemy's Geog-
raphy. These books are especially valuable by
reason of their containing cOpiou5 annctations
on the margins by Columbus and memoran-
dums of the voyage to America.
Here also Is a manuscript book of 500 pages
in the handwriting of Columbus, being his de-
Tense against the inquisition. before whom he
was accused of heresy and biasphemy. Column
bus had declared that his voyage was predicted
by the Scripture and divinely inspired Tho
inquisition of Spain declared this statement to
be blasphemous and heretical.
In the archives of the Indies at Seville Mr.
Curtis found documents of great importance
bearing on the early history of America. among
them copy of the bull of the pope dividing
the new world between the Portuguese and the
Spaniards.