The herald., 1893-09-17
Both the above books for sale by The Stoll &
Thayer Co., l39 South Spring street.
f7 Books at the Fair.


Last week we visited the magnificent
display OF the German exhibitors and
viewed their we'll assorted exhibit. This
week we will take walk from the Ger
man exhibit inFthe German building,
down past the Spanish building and the
north pier, near which can be eesn the
naval ship that came from Norway.
Passing the magnificent manufacturers
and liberal arts building on the right
and the music hall and harbor on the
left we reach the long pier with its
moveable sidewalk. Then skirting the
east side Of the agricultural building.
near which is anchored the reproduced
memorable vessels of Columbus, the
Santa Maria, Nina and Pinta. you cross
rustic bridge and before you is
wish to mies.0 Facing the Casino on the
north, the blue waters of the lake on
the east and the little feet in the inlet
astery of La Rabida on this rock, bound
little promontory extending beyond
the shores of Lake Michigan-an almost
exact iaceimile of the original structure
which crowns the summit OF low head
land between the Odiel and Tinto rivers
near the town Of Paloe, Spain. The ex-
hibits shown within La Rabida, how
ever, are of interest chiefly to the anti
quarian and the student OF history. This
monastery, where Columbus first OBJ
tanned aid and sympathy, has fittingly
been made the depository of documents,
books, charts, pictures and implements
illustrating the life and voyages
OF the great discoverer. The
idea OF reproducing the ancient
monastery as q shelter for these relics of
Columbus was conceived and carried
out by William Elvoy Curtis, chief of
the Latin-American department of tho
exposition. The plans were drawn
from sketches and photographs secured
by Mr.. Curtis in Spain, and the build
ing was erected at the expense Of the
exposition, Passing through the door
way the visitor enters a long, low,
roughly-plastered room. In cases
ranged aloug the sides are the original
manuscripts and records issued by the
duke of Veragua, the duchess OF Ber-
wick and AlyaBond the vatican. Among
them is the original commission given to
Columbus by Ferdinand and Isabella
upon his departure for his first voyage ;
the royal letters patent exempting from
taxation the supplies required for the
feet of Columbus, letter from Queen
Isabella to Columbus; bull of Pope
Alexander giving to the sovereigne
of Spain all lands discovered
by Columbus original memorands
written by Columbus to Ferdinand and
Isabella, his will, q memorandum con-
cerning bis arrest and declaring his in
nocence, letters to his son Diego, royal
DEGREES concerning the discoveries, etc.
These are all part OF the Veragua collec-
ton, which consistsof 81, original docu-
ments in excellent preservation. From
the duchess OF Berwick and Ava, IL pa
perH were ATTAINED, among them the
original "capitulation" of Columbus
with the Spanish sovereigns; also rough
drafts Ct letters OF Columbus, with
erasures and corrections in his hand
writing, and other original documents.
The contributions Of the Vatican num-
ber II. One of the most interesting is q
letter of Pope Nicholas ", dated Rome.
September 20, l448, to the Irish bishops
of Skahlolt and Holar, concerning the
condition Of the church in Green
land. showing that the Scandinavian
colonies in Greenland were under the
supervision of Rome az early as the
tenth century. There are numerous
bulls relating to the division OF the
newly-discovere countries, and three
interesting charts, among them con-
temporary copy of the first Borgian map,
celebrated in history on account OF the
line traced across it by Pope Alexander
vi. Resides documents and maps the
collection contains various articles con-
nected with Columbus, notably bat.
tered wooden cross, said to be copy of
the one greeted on Watling's island by
Columbus. The precious relics con
tanned in the monastery are guarded by
q detachment Of United States troops,
constantly on duty. And so we leave
this reproduction Of the ancient Spanish