The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-23

siere." Domenico Columbus, father Of
Christopher. had here a house and shop
rs a wOol-carder. They gave to the little
boy the name Of Christopheros-the Christ
bearer-and II was an almost prophetic
name, for the St. Christopher for whom
the boy was named was that giant Sy-
riac saint, Of the third century, who ac-
cording to the legend. carried the Christ
| child over deep waters al his own great
! peril. and received therefor the name
! tOpherOS-Christ bearer. The family
| name Columbus or Colombo, was no
less prophetic, for Colombo" is "a dove"
| and the dove loosed from the ark. first
brought back 10 the patriarch in the ark
the sign Of a recovered world.
There IS little TO tell Of how Chisto-
! piers boyhOOd was passed. but the story
Of his life shows that very early the
! spirit Of the rover must have have taken
! possession Of him. He was a home
/ helper; he went daily 10 school, for in
/ those days so Mr. Symonds tells us,
! Italy devoted herself 10 scholarship"
/ But 10 instruction in letters was Joined
| physical education. Boys were taught TO
exercise In the open air. to hunt and fish.
TO wrestle and fence. TO train their bodies
and 10 improve their walk and bearing
Bright, strong and robust though Co
lumbus was, he was still a dreamer
the Mediterranean waves. and as ne
wandered by the curving seashore, he
would look with inquistive longing to-
ward the utmost horizon, until at last
there was born into his soul the desire
10 investigate those distant lands OF
whom the shipmen had told him. When
fourteen years old he left school and be
gan TO help his father at the wool
wheel" but the work was distasteful 10
him HIS dacfrf -
upon him, and though he was a good
son, and in 1472 took upon himself some
Ct his fathers pressing debts ne de-
cided at last TO follow his inward call
IN g. ard while yet q boy, left mis- home
in Genoa and took 10 the sea There was
a certain Captain Colombo, or Columbus.
whose ship had touched at Genoa. 10
Wnom, doubtless because Of his name /
the boy Christopher had been attached /
Doing him some little service or errand /
In town. the boy had gone again and /
again on board the highly built caravel /
OF the fighting sea captain, and when I'm /
1853 the vessel sailed away TO Join the
naval exploration, which the Duke Of
Anjou was gathering TO attack Naples.
on the vessel went young Christopher as
sailors apprentice But the Mediterra-
mean grew TO be too limited a field for
him; he dreamed again Of land beyond
the sea; and as reports came 10 him Of
honors TO be won by sailing I'm the ser
vice OF the sailor prince the gallant
Henry OF Portugal, he left home once
more, and in 1910 Joined his brother
Bartholomew at Lisbon. the capital city
OF Portugal. He was now twenty-four-a
rudy strong and sinewy Italian sailor.
with experience enough Of ships and men
10 command his own vessel, could he
but have an opportunity. The oppor-
tunity came that same year. for falling
10 ind suitable employment among the
captains Of Prince Henry the Navigator.
he answered another call of the Duke Of
AnJoH for seamen TO help him I'm his
struggle with the King Of Arragon. Hur-
rying 10 Marseilles, with his record OF a
hghting sailor, he speedily got command
OF one Of the light and swift caravels
that made up the fleet Of Anjou Sailing
away towards Naples. he was ordered TO
capture the enemy's galley. "Ferdinan-
Gina which lay somewhere Off ST. Pc
ters Isle, near the Sardinia. But as he
sailed 10 the attack. his crew somehow
learned that three other vessels had
joined the Ferdinandina at ST. Peters.
becoming frightened. they declared they
would not allow their captain TO atteupt
the enterprise alone. but demanded that
hs return 10 Marseillcs for more ships
and sailors. But Columbus was not the
man TO turn back Being aware" ne
says. that l could master them only
by some cunning trick. 1 pretended TO
yield TO their wishes; but at night l
changed the position Of the needle and |
let the vessel so before the wind At
sunrise we were in sight Of Cape Carthe-
gena. while all else believed we were re-
turning 10 Marseilles." lie fought and |
captured the Ferdinandina and sailed back
win the prize to Marsenles But rest
lessness seems 10 have been born into
the spirit Of this Genoese sailor. now
grown to manhood. Alternating his trims
as map agent having gone into chart
making with his brothep. with life on
the wave, he sailed on many seas and
met with many adventures. But all this
line he was revolving in his mind the
mighty scheme he had cherished almost !
rom boyhood-the finding OF a new way
10 India and the rescue Of the Uol, {
Sepuicher from the hands Of the Sara
ems. The story Of his manhood Of his
TRUSTEES. lis Ces.res. his failures. his {
pluck and his final success Is familiar 10 G
Veiy American girl and boy. and NAV {
tand as lesson 10 all To-day Genoa S
lonors N, memory OF the boy who I
played In its streets ana sailed from its {
FnarVes with tablets Of remembrance {
ma statued monument. And well II i
nay. To IL did the great admiral Nrst s
'der the opportunity 10 test mis- theories O
ma ma the distant lands that he was e
er,ain lay somew here in the mighty s
vest. And 10 IT, also, he turned with love O
nd longing, and all an "old BOYS" low II
NY when In his latest years he wrote h
a the legal paper that conferred the
IGN, or succession 10 his estates and O
ohors upon rs son Diego and his heirs. n
4 ehJoln IL upon my son, the said Don !
'lego, always TO keep and maintain in v
he city OF Genoa, one person of orr n
neage' because from thence ! came and ir
4 II l was born" '''1 n
Talk ABOUT GAMMA ~
Nc 'raD Proves Himself TO BE n Very -