Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-08

| an outpost on the frontier, and 1t is well known
that here Columbus, much discouraged, sought
shelter, and found that and encouragement
also at the hands of Father de Marchena. who,
| being In favor with Isabella, used his influence
on the explorers behalf.
THE ORIGINAL BUILDING.
According to tradition the monastery was
erected by the Roman emperor Trajan His
tory records that in the eleventh century it
was reconstructed by the Knights Templar,
who then occupied it for some time. After
| ward the building came into the possession Of
| the franciscan monks, who remodeled it, call
| ing 1t Santa Maria de La Rabida," or the
Monastery Of ST. Mary Of the Frontier. Again
| since then 1t was enlarged, but two years ago
was restored by the government Of Spain to
| the exact condition in which 1t stood at the
| time when Columbus found an asylum there
| in 1885. second time he sought shelter with
| these friendly monks. third time. in 1894,
| he returned to be guest at La Rabida while
| waiting for vessels and supplies from the
| people OF Palos, and attended mass in the
chapel on the morning of his departure. Upon
| his triumphal return to Palos he revisited the
place, the monks sang TIE Deum in the
chapel and he remained here till summoned to
court.
THE REPRODUCTION.
| The idea Of reproducing this historic relic Of
the middle ages and here enshrining the price
less Columbus relics is credited to William
Eleroy Curtis Of Washington, chief Of the
Lattn-American department Of the exposition.
Mr.. Curtis secured the sketches and photo
graphs in Spain and Mr.. Henry D. Ives super
| intended the construction. The original mon
astery has been dtly called the corner stone Of
American history; it is with feeling Of rever-
| ence one enters this its counterpart
INTERESTED VISITORS.
1t is easily reached to the east Of the agricul-
| tural building by one Of the white, prettily
| arched bridges everywhere to be seen and lies
| almost under the shadow Of the tall Casino
| The great interest Of the people is well shown
| by the large crowd always in attendance. The
| first entrance is usually into the chapel where
| are preserved some twenty-five original auto
graph letters Of Columbus. among them letters
| to his wife and son Diego. Here is also
| the original decree granting the coat-of-arms
after his discoveries, also a quantity Of more
| than valuable manuscript. Old paintings and
copies adorn the walls.
The cloisters OF the ancient monastery are
| faithfully reproduced and well filled with
| precious and interesting relics. The most val
| liable historical papers in existence are here,
| loaned by the Duke Of Veragua at the special
| request Of the President Of the United States.
The most noteworthy are autograph letters Of
Columbus, letters from the King Of Portugal to
Columbus, royal letters patent from the SOW
ereigns OF Spain concerning Columbus and his
feet, bull Of Pope Alexander granting to Spain
all lands discovered by Columbus, congratu-
latory letter from the sovereigns Of Spain, and
| the will Of Christopher Columbus.
RICH COLLECTION OF ORIGINAL PAPERS
| is loaned BY the Duchess Of Berwick-Albs and
valuable historical documents and objects OF
| art from the Vatican. loaned by Pope Leo XIII,
| both by request Of the President and Congress.
The Vatican loan collection embraces papal
| letters and bulls, pictures and busts the cole
brated Borgian map Of America map Of the
| old and new world made in the sixteenth CEN
fury, and the beautiful Ribero chart The
inscription on the latter states that IL is a
universal map Of all the then known world. II
was made by Diego Ribero in 1879. at Seville,
and is charmingly executed on vellum.
Mr.. William E. Curtis has loaned a magnifi-
cent collection Of books relating to the times
and history Of Columbus.
An original copy Of the first edition Of the
book that christened America is loaned by Mr..
Charles Gunther Of Chicago.
RELICS OF COLUMBUS CAPTIVITY.
A crowd always fingers around the relics of
the captivity of Columbus, which include some
pieces of wood from the beam to which he was
chained and one Of the bolts. There is ma
hogany Intel from the house in Santo Domingo
in which he lived while there, and pair Of old
wooden shutters. About the Intel is a protect
i've rail and also about the door sill to keep the
ambitious sightseer from literally treading in
the footsteps Of the great hero.
There are coins made by hand and with a
hammer from the first gold brought from
America. 1t is said that there are but eighteen
in existence. The casket of crystal and gold so
carefully exhibited is tine fac simile of one in
which the dust of the discoverer is placed The
remains were found in the cathedral at Santo
Domingo.
THE ISABELLA BELL.
That precious relic, the Isabella bell, or
bell Of the fig tree, is shown in a glass case
and attracts much notice. 1t is small, but Of
bronze and of good workmanship, though with
but eight inches in height. 1t was presented
by King Ferdinand to the first church in Isa-
bella, which was the first city of the new world
1t bears the image Of st. Michael and the letter
"F, +" in memory Of the donor. When gold was
found in the mountains and the town vacated
the bell also was removed to La Vega. Nearly
four hundred years later, and but q few
years ago, this old bell was found by a
shepherd tangled up in vines among tho
ruins and held up to view by the branches
of q fig tree. The relic is now owned by a
church in Santo Domingo, and has been secured
for this exposition through the efforts Of the
Dominican minister to the United States. Senior
Don Manuel j. Galvan. 1t was the first bell
ever rung in the new world. The bell Of Cartha-
gena is also here; it was brought from Spain in
1884 for convent use, and was presented by
Charles V, Emperor Of Spain. This bell weighs
seventy-fve pounds.
All the old stones that remained at the town
of Isabella it is but small pile, is here on
view. 1t is what remained Of the church and
the "king's house." There is also some old
pottery from Isabella, and few tiles from the
ruined church. The latter was dedicated az
recently CD as January, 1494.
La Rabida contains numberess other relics,
all Of which are intensely interesting. I had all
but forgotten the brick and tiles from the orig
inal monastery at Palos, Spain, and supposed
to be sixteen centuries old
The bust Of Columbus and flag which were
used at the commemorative ceremonies at the
Convent Of La Rsbida in August Of 1892 have
been presented to the United States and are
exhibited here.
The house Columbus occupied at Porto Santo,
Madeira Islands. sends It's relics ALSO consisting
of three of its window shutters, heavy wood
door step, pair of inside doors and two canes
made from some Of its wood. The latter were
presented by Mr.. John F. Healy, United States
consul at Madeira, to Mr.. W. E. Curtis and Mr.
James G.. Blaine.
There is a wealth of paintings at La Rabida
Some of these are valuable copies, some price,
less originals, and others copies for informa-
ton Of visitors. The famous Lotto portrait
Of Columbus is from the Madrid historical ex-
position and is the one that received the gold
medal for being the most authentic portrait
extant. The likeness on the souvenir coins is
taken from this painting The picture has be-
ha 0f Tbo