The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-05-18

and Death, by Sarah Parkerl
Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy,
about 1885, in the part of the city occupied
by the weaverS of woollen cloth. Learned
men have taken much pains to ma the
very house. The city has bought 1t and
put an inscription on it, which says IN o
house more verify! Here, under his
fathers roof, Christopher Columbus passed
his bOyhOod and youth. "
At this time Genoa was place OF ships
and sailors, therefore Columbus got pretty
good idea of the art of sailing. When but
little fellow, from the wharves he could
watch the ships sailing out to trade in
distant lands.
wonder if the wool-comber's little boy
ever dreamed that he might one day come
to be the most famous of all ship captains,
and sail farther away into unknown seas
than any man had ever sailed before?
Columbus was poor, but somehow got
pretty good education. He learned Latin,
wrote nicely, and drew maps and charts
by which he was able to earn a living.
The men of that time did not know much
of the Atlantic Ocean, which they called
''The Sea of Darkness" They believed
that great monsters swan in the ocean, and
that in one part it was so hot that the
water boiled.
The only trade they had with Asia was
by caravans, which brought silks, gums,
spices and precious stones from the far
problem of the day was to find cheaper
and shorter route to Asia. While the Port
ugueSe in trying to get to India were creep
ing timidly down the coast of Africa, with
land always in sight Christopher Columbus
thought of new and far holder plan AS
learned men believed the earth to be round
he proposed to sail straight west to ASIA
He thought he should find Asia about as
far west from Europe as America is. OF
course he knew nothing of America.
lie was too poor to fit out ships and sea-
men, and as Portugal was the leading coun-
try in making new discoveries he applied
there for aid The King ridiculed the plan,
but had the meanness to secretly send out
one of his own vessels, which sailed west
ward little way, and then came back and
reported that there was no land there.
Columbus on hearing this left Portugal not
liking to be cheated in this way.
He next went to Spain which was ruled
by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.
They were now very busy IN war with the
MoOrs and paid little heed to Columbus
plans. Most of those who heard of Column
bus made fun of his plans They did not
believe that people could live on the other
side of the world, and walk with their feet
up and their heads down. Even the chill |
dren tapped their foreheads when he passed |
to show that they thought the fellow was
crazy.
Finally getting discouraged he left Spain |
and decided to offer his plan to the King of
France. His friends at the Spanish court |
laid the matter before Queen Isabella and |
she was finally won to his cause. She sent |
a messenger after Columbus who brought |
him back with the promise that at last he
would be sent forth on his voyage.
Queen Isabella said she would pledge her
jewels to raise the money, but that was not
necessary. In spite OF the power which
the King of Spain gave him 10 force ships
and seamen to go with him, Columbus
fp,, l., - h,,I
expedition, the sailors were so afraid of the
ocean.
At last all was ready and Columbus set
sail from PalOS, Spain, Aug. 3, 1892, with
three little vessels, only one of which had a
deck over it. Columbus went to the Ca
nary Islands. and then with great sorrow
the men took leave of the last known land,
and sailed into seas in which no ship had
ever been before They travelled week
after week. The men were alarmed to find
as they went westward, that the needle of
the compass did not point to the North
Star. Presently, the ships struck great
masses of Sea-weed, and the frightened
sailors remembered old stories of frozen
ocean, and thought this must be just the
place Columbus tried to keep their cour
age up by pointing to supposed signs of
land until the men would no longer listen
to his hopeful words. On the 18th of Oct, i
the sailors found branch of a thorn tree
with berries on 1t. They also fiShed up a
cane and log covered with dog roses. {
The night following this no one slept. At
1O o'clock Columbus saw light in the dis ,
lance, as though some one was carrying I
torch. Later at night the joyful cry of
"Landp' rang out. Columbus dressed in a
splendid military suit of scarlet, stepped
upon the new world, Oct. ~, 1892. He G
found the land to be an island which he
named st. Salvador, meaning ''Holy Saw
Jour" a lot of natives came out on the 6
beach and gazed on the scene. They
thought the ships were huge white-winged
BIRDS, and the Spaniards to have come
down from heaven. Columbus supposed a
he had reached the eastern coast of India Z
and he called the dark-colored natives,
Indians, He visited Cuba, Hayti, and !,
other islands. II
Now he began to think of carrying home b
the good news of his discovery. His re- I
ceptiOn nome was fine occasion. The
whole nation took holiday. He entered
barcelona in great procession. At the k
mead marched the Indians whom he
brought back with him. These were ,
Smeared with paint and made to look very n
fancltul with feathers and golden Orna. v
were carried in the procession with articles h
OF Soid, ETC. Ferdinand and Isabella re- h
celVed Columbus under a canopy or gold y
brocade, and there he told of his wonder
tul voyage and discoveries. This was the a
happieSt moment of the troubled life of
: Il
TO the New World, and died May 20, 1906. l
lie believed to the last he had discovered \
the eastern part of Asia. He never knew |
that he had found a new Continent,
lie was buried at Valadolid, but in 1896
MS remains were taken to Havana with i'm {
posing ceremonies. The following inscrip- L
ton is on the tomb: Y
80, rest thou, image of the great Colon !
Thousand centuries remain, guarded in the
urn,
And in the remembrance of our nation" 1
The 4OOth anniversary of Columbus dis =
cOvery of America was observed by the :
great Columbian Exposition at Chicago.
This was the grandest Fair the world {
ever had. I
just south of the Peristyle rises a rocky /
slope where0n was located an exact repro
ducti0n of the Convent of Santa Maria De
la Rabida, where Columbus found shelter t
in time of trouble and "begged pittance
for his child" The building was more s
closely connected with Columbus and his
great work than any other. 1t contained
priceless relics of the great discOverer.
ThnU NJanf NaK,oao