Morning journal and courier., 1892-09-19
alos, seeking bread and water for his lit

Inc father superior OF THIS monastery
opened the gate with kindly greeting and |
invited him in for rest. This father supe- |
rior was an educated man. Columbus, dis |
covering this and being inspired by single
purpose, was not slow in revealing 1t. A
long conversation followed, in which the
whole plan was explained, and great sor-
row expressed that no one could be found
willing to aid.
Gradually this friar became interested
and finally was dazzled with the stupen-
dous project unfolded-so interested, and
enlisted, and dazzled that he confessed full
confidence in ultimate success. Distrust-
| ing, however, bis own judgment, he sent
| for the village physician, another educated
man, with whom he was on terms of init
macy. Long consultations and explanations
| followed, and there, in that secluded monas-
terry, plans went on perfecting until the
| spring of 1855.
Meanwhile Columbus visited Genoa and
made second fruitless application for aid
| to the senate Of that city.
| 1t 80 happened that the father superior
was the queens confessor. He wrote
letter to the queen urging her to oounte-
nance and aid his new found friend. Ere
long favorable answer came, and at her
bidding Columbus stood before her. He
was kindly received, presented his case
with masterful argument, which made q
deep impression on her mind, and really
awakened much of confidence. He was,
however, left long in donbt IS to the Issue
At the time in question religion and
science were closely allied through the
east Especially in Spain. The treasures of
learning were immurred In monasteries,
and professors chairs filled from the
cloister." The clergy ruled over state as
we'll as church, and all honorable Offices
1 ksolI IL 80
ecclesiastics. Naturally, therefore, and
inevitably Columbus case was referred to
the men of the cloister. These he met
time after time, explaining his theory,
urging his cause and declaring that he had
been ordained by heaven for the discovery
of a world lying beyond the seas, whose
beauty, splendor and magniacence had
never come to men. even in their fondest
dreams.
When, however, he affirmed the earth to
be round he startled them all, and was an
swered, ''Is there man so foolish as to
believe that there are antipodes with their
feet opposite ours-people who walk with
their feet upward and their heads hanging
downa That there is part of the world
} in which all things are topsy -turvy, where
! trses grow with their branches downward
and where it rains, halls and SHOWS up
warda"
This was declared unecientific and IRA.
tional, and, above all, unscriptural
Remember that at this time the sola,
system of Copernicus, which later reve rsed
that of Ptolemy, was unknown; that mon
astic biRotry stood in direct opposition to
all intellectual advs ucement; that men OF
the cloister were bewildered in a maze OF
religious controversy, and that only a blind
faith was left in place of honest inquiry
\ remember these things and wonder not al
} the antagonism of monks and friars.
Remember also that at the time in ques
: ton the Moors were in Spain fighting TO,
3 supremacy, taxing all the resources ani
8 powers of the king and queen, and won
der not that there was delay in aiding Co
/ lumbus, also in giving him his final an
swer.
+ Ere long, however, the Moors gave NJ
q their struggle. The Moorish king cam
o forth from the Alhambra, making uncon
:, ditional surrender. Then followed a never
8 to-be-forgotten scene. After 800 years tn
= crescent had fallen. The cross was e1altet
Q in its place and the standard of Spail
1oated from the highest tower of the Al
y hambra, while every eye regarded the kim
n and queen as more than mortal. SHINING
Q helmets, swords and bucklers were every
d where. Hills and valleys swsrmed wit
IS infantry and horsemen. Ladies of ran
aud soldiers wives mingled in the enthus
q sstic march. The blast of bugles an
W trumpets filled all the air. The gres
IT procession came, King Ferdinand an
Queen Isabella riding at its head, movin
% forward to the contamination of thei
i" highest hopes-the most brilliant trump
10 in Spanish history.
l. At last the barriers before the bray
80 Columbus were broken down. The oppo
tunity longed for came. Columbt
II hears his petition answered. He ca
g. scarcely believe his ears. The king an
l. queen sanction his great undertaking an
August he unfurled his sails for depa
ture.
l. The remainder of DIR. Twitchell's maste
n ly discourse was devoted to a brief, bl
8, graphic description of the long, storm
30 voyage across the unknown seas, the grel
Of joy of the officers and crews when G
ID September 10 IAN island or continent" W,
1t sighted, the landing on the new world an
a Columbus formal taking possession of
IS of the discovery of Cuba and the bsgi,
ming of his return journey to Spain Jal
" uary 16, 1893, their arrival at Lisbo
ID March 4, Columbus reception by the Kin
T. of Portugal, his later voyages in 149
j. 1893 and his final return to Spain in Isl
I'd and his sad death which occurred May q
Of 1906.