The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-01-29

aera1 fnrir tlrone 70 Ne piacei IN puplc
nudrr a { canopy Of brocade Of gold.
in a vast AID splendid saloon. Here the
king and queen awaited his arrival
seated in staas. with the Prince Juan BE-
side them. and attended by the dignita-
mes of their court xnd the principal
nobility Of CASTLE. valentia. Catalonia
and Arragon. all impatient 20 behold
the man who had conferred 90 incslcu-
liable . b~ue6t upon the nation At
length Columbus entered the hall, sur.
ronndrd by a brilliant crowd Of cava-
hers. among whom. says Las Casas. he
Was conspicuous for his stately and com-
manding person. which with his counte-
nance. rendered venerable by his gray
hairs. gave him the august appearance
Of = senator " Rome. : modest smile
lighted up mis- features. showing thar he
enjoyed the state and glory IN which he
came: and certainly nothing could DO
more deeply moving to a mind inhainsd
By noble ambition. and conscious Ct
having greatly deserved. than these tee
timonials Of the admiration and graft
tude Of a nation. or rather OF . world.
As Columbus approached the sovereigns
rose. as II receiving a person Of the high
est rank. Bending his knees he offered
TO kiss their hands. but there was some
hesitation on their part to permit this
act Of homage. Raising him In the
most gracious n they ordered him
to seat himself in their presence. a rare
honor in this proud and punctilious
court.
At their request be now gave an &C
count Of the most striking events OF his
voyage and Z description Of the islands
discovered He displayed specimens Of
unknown birds and other animals. OF
rare plants Of medicinal and aromatic
virtues. Of native gold in dust, in crude
nasses or lsbored INTO barbaric orna-
ments. and above all the natives Of these
countries. who were objects Of intense
and inexhausti,le interest All these he
pronounced mere harbingers Of greater
discoveries yet to be made. which would
add realms Of incalculable wealth to the
dominions Of their maJesties and whole
nations Of proselytes 10 the true faith
When he had finished. the sovereigns
sank on their knees, and raising their
claSped hands to heaven. their z, Is filled
with tears Of JOY and gratitude. poured
forth thanks and praises 70 God for 80
great a providence: all present followed
their example. a deep and solemn enthu-
siasrn pervaded that splendid assembly,
and prevented all common acclamations
Of triumph The anthem 'Te Deum
Laudamus.r chanted by the choir Of the
royal chapel. with the accompaniment
instruments. rose in q full body Of sacred
harmony. bearing up. As II were, the
feelings and thoughts Of the auditors to
heaven, so that" says the venerable Las
Cssas. 1T seemed rs II in that hour they
communicated with celestial delights."
Such was the solemn and pious
In which the brilliant court Of Spain
celebrated this sublime event. Offering
up a grateful tribute Of melody and
praise. and giving glory to God for the
discovery Of another world.
When Columbus retired from the royal
presence he was attended to his residence
by all the court and followed by the
shouting populacs. For many days he
was the object Of universal curiosity.
and wherever he appeared WAS sur
rounded BY an admiriny multitude.
While his mind was teeming with
glorious anticipations. his pious scheme
for the deliversnce Of the holy sepulcher
was not forgotten II has been shown
that he suggested II to the Spanish sover
eigns at the time Of FIRST making his pro-
positions. holding II forth Is the great
object 10 BE- Effected BY the profits Of his
discoveries Flushed with the idea Of
the vast wealth now to accrue to himself.
he made a vow to furnish within seven
years an army. consisting Of four thou
sand horse and fifty thousand foot. for
the rescue Of the holy sepulcher. and .
similar force within the five following
years. This VOW was recorded in one Of
his letters 10 the sovereigns. TO which he
refers. bat which IL no longer extant.
nor is It certain whether il vas made at
the end Of his first voyage or At . subse-
quent date. when the magnitude and
wealthy result Of his discoveries became
more fully manifest
He often alludes to It vaguely in his
writings. and he refers to Il expressly in
. letter to Pope Alexander vi, written
in i5Oe, in which he accounts also for it,
nonfulfllment. II Is essential toa full
comprehension Of the character and
motives OF Columbus that this visionary
project should b borne in recollection.
II will be found to have entwined itself
in his mind with his enterprise Of dis
covery. and that = holy crusade was "a
be the consummation Of those divine
purposes. for which he considered him
self selected BY heaven as an agent. II
shows how much his mind was elevated
above selfish and mercenary views
how II was filled with those devout and
heroic schemes. which in the time Of tho
Crusades had inf1amed the thoughts and
directed the enterprises Of the braves'
warriors and most illustrions princes.