The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-01-05
all the astronomy Known to the Arabians of

of all the astronomy fhown to the Arabians of
Spain. Il
try TO find the route to india but when King John
laid it before his geographers after learned con.
'hsy %possss but this did
| this new route for himself which he did by send
ing out secret e1pffHtiP9p1 of his own. which re-
| 1t had sailed westward from Cape Verde for few
| days, and seeing nothing but water came back.
The pilot had Columlb,sss charts. but lacked his
fraud him of his work reused the indignation of
| Columbus. and he left Portugal. a country where
he had been treated with 80 little faith and went
| to look elsewhere for patronage.
After this Columbus sent his brother to England
for aid, but he fell among robbers, who robbed hin,
of all his money, so he.did got reach the court OF
| King Henry 1t has been said that Columbus had
| TO beg his way from court 10 court that princes
| might gain new world About this time his wife
went back to his native country to his father,
who was very old and feeble. From here he went
| to Spain to see King Ferdinand.
During seven long years he waited for an answer.
and then getting dsheartened he decided to try his
| fate once more and this time at the court of
| France. but as he was in tho very act OF leaving
| he received a message from the Queen, desiring
his return. He sought an interview, and was met
| very cordially.
before Queen Isabella, and got her 80 interested in
| il that when the King pleaded tho want of funds,
she exclaimed: II pledge my jewels to raise the
money! but this was not needed, as the treasurer
of the Arsgon, who was a friend of Columbus, adj
vanced most of the money and some other friends
| the rest.
Queen Isabella promised him that he should have
for himself during his life, and his heirs and
cessors forever, the office of Admiral in all lands
which he might discover, and that he should be
| entitled to for himself one-tenth OF all
pearls precious stones gold and silver. and Spices
| which he would find during his voyage.
Queen Isabella was very pure and beautiful
woman. Size was we'll formed and of middle size
Her compile EXON fair, hair auburn and eyes clear
| blue, you can see that she must have been very
L har frio tn rr
| every good she could for them. Ferdinand was
| just her opposite He had cold disposition. while
| she was very loving.
| Though Columbus was armed with Isabella's
authority, he found 1t very hard to get vessels and
sailors. The boldest men shrank from such an
undertaking.
At last three vessels were found the Pintn, Santa
| Maria and Nina. They sailed from PaIos. Spain,
Aug. 8, 1892, just 400 years ago. Columbus sailed
on the Santa Maria, which was the largest vessel.
| When the sailors saw the last glimpse OF land
slowly fade from their view many, the bravest
burst into tears. As they proceeded they noticed
that the compass did not point directly north and
they thought they had gotten into n region where
the very laws of Nature were changed.
They soon came to the trade winds which waited
carrying them to destruction. Soon mutinous
spirit broke out among them. The sailors wanted
to go back and Columbus would not let them, so
they decided to throw him overheard Although
Columbus knew about this he never faitered from
his brave purpose.
Soon signs of land silenced them. staff arti-
ficially carved and branch Of thorn with berries
floated near. In the evening Columbus saw
light. Late at night the cry Of land rang out
from the Pinta. In the morning the shore OF new
world lay before them.
Columbus, dressed in scarlet dress embroidered
In gold. stepped out upon the land, followed by his
officers and men. Oct. IL, 1892.
Columbus threw himself upon his knees and
kissed the earth and gave thanks TO God. He then
planted the cross and took possession in the namo
of Queen Isabella.
The wondering natives did not know what to
make of the Spabiards. They thought the ships
birds with large wings and the sailors to have
come from Heaven.
Columbus named these men Indians. because he
thought he had reached India. The Indians had
few gold ornaments. which they readily exchanged
for hawks bills, etc. 1rH
After remaining some time In examining the
country he set sail for home During the voyage
he was oyertaken by aetremendous Storm and fear
ing that he might perish and that the knowledge
of his discovery would never reach the world, he
wrote a short account Of his voyage and discovery
which he inclosed in a cake of wax and threw into
the sea- hoping might fall into the hands Of
navigator or be east ashore. This cake was found
o year or two ego off the coast Of Africa.
Columbus reached home i'm March, 1893. and was
greeted with much joy. Business was stopped and
bells were rung. Al court he treated with
much honor Ferdinand at once laid claim to tho
newly discovered country.
Although Columbus failed to do what he
pected, he did something greater; he discovered q
new world which, in 400 years, has become Of
the greatest and most wonderful Nations of this
earth.-Blanche Russell Brimfeld, ILL.,