Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-05-26

While YOU are breakfasting at the
Chicago Casino some morning when
Lake Michigan is in q pensiVe mood
the spell Of the somber sheet OF water
will fall upon your spirit untn you
will realize that his array OF cold white
u,llrt.s las nothing to offer you. Then
in a fortunate moment you will see the
monastery of La Rabida across the mar
row canal, and turn to its refuge as
Columbus did from the courts OF Eu-
rome that met his appeal with hooking
laughter.
Tt stands quite alone on little rocky
Dromontory-a low structure OF plas-
ter. rooted with red tiles. Clumsy doors
of dark wood and small square WIN
dows are let into the rude walls. IL
Il j building that needs the background
of q gray olive grove of old Spain, or
the wide rolling sweep Of the Roman
Campagna dotted with large-horned
slate-colOred cattle, to furnish It's pro-
nor setting. But here, dropped down
as it is into a classic renaissance OF
architecture, it makes an atmosphere
Of it's own 1t WithdraWs into itself and
holds 10 communication with the paE-
COS. except to rcbuke their gayety with
its asceticism 1t has no welcome Tor
idle mirth, but to all who come weary
Of the courts it offers the bread and
wine Of knowledge, courage, seH-sacr-
hce and reverence for great deeds done
In the past You may go there with
some secret hope of high achievement
of your own and it will meet your
mood.
Inside is a large canvas representing
Columbus and his young son receiving
the hospitality of La Rabida. To the
son is given food, and to the father
sympathetic understanding OF his ad-
yenturous soul by the venerable prior
Of tho monastery ] wish this picture
was at the entrance to crystalize the
feeling with which one enters the
chapel.
But from the opposite wall starts a
figure that seems to breathe and move,
50 vital and intense are attitude ana
expression It is Columbus setting foot
on land wide waste of water is be-
hind him, few figures in boat. There
lust the admiral of the ocean-Sea and
tod above him. The bronzed, Scared
face is upturned, the hands forward in
eagerness, the feet planted wide apart
on the spot of earth set in this place
for him. The great heart can almost
DC seen to throb under the folds of his
cloak The bcholder knows what right
eous achievement means.
The chapel is lofty, white and bare.
Tiny windows pierce the walls high up
under the pointed arches; curious old
illumirations of the holy family make
n glory about the altar platform.
Among them is 4 tail cross OF mahoS-
any 4 fac-simile of the one raised
1T San Diego 400 years ago. Below
the pictures are prayer benches, and
leaning in corner in front of the altar
rail is corroded anchor of iron of
ancient pattern found near Navidad,
where the Santa Maria was known to
have been wrecked. There is 4 section
Of chain and n piece of canvas from
thr ,.aravcl. It is Incredible TINT he wor"
the chain. Yet there he is on another
wall He stands alone under sail
that strains in storm. chained to the
deck Of the ship that he brought IN
safety over these unknown waters.
You come to know how the great
navigator looked. Smooth-faced he
was. with an abundance of gray, then
silver hair that sweenS back from Il
noble brow. He has the soul of sea
bird that struggles in the body of
man to be away to lands it knows of
that lie under the languor and storms
of tropics. He is patient with the little
chrping about him because he is great.
but always there is a cry unintelligible
to his companions that rends his breast.
Eighty portraits-oil and ink, painting
and engraving stare down upon you
from the walls Some are like these I
have described. and Somo have ruff.
doublet and hose. slashings. buckles
aud pointed beard of Elizabethan days.
You cannot think how they could have
gained credence. Your ideal is au-
thentie: these portraits are the vain inn
a@iningS Of artists who tricked out Il
popular hero of 4 hundred years earlier
sarnnrv Of Sir Walter Raleigh.
We are nearer him now than they were
in the dark ages. and think of him with
drapery sweeping free from the bronze
column of his neck. the square chin
and face as frankly chiseled with a
dominant thought rs an old Greek stat
~ That primal genius nev"r grew a
pointed beard @or rested it in q
startched ruff.
Here is the front elevation end n1an
of the house where he was born in
Genoa-a narrow house Of seven floors
that from the upner windows one could
speak 70 his ncighhor across the way.
From the door-steps of that house his
feet wander TO all the courts of Europe.
We see him grow from youth to mid
die age: sea faring man from the age
of fourteen. much given to reading
Marco Polo. At last he is here at the
portals of In Rahida. with a hungry
child. vet his soul is undaunted. From
here he goes to the court of Spain.
Henceforth it is he and Isabella. To
her he speaks. In the centuries when
women We're held inferior how did the
painters dare make Isabella the oniy
one To whose ear his message held any
meaning? Ferdinand Is there. polite.
attentive. little bored. the court def
Arent1al. 1t Is but few steps to the
next chaper in this grand collection.
The sun has come out and floods the
upper galleries hui1t about tho inrnr