The Forrest City times., 1894-09-14
The Hidden Beauties of United
 States History.


 phenomenon startled the thinking spirits of the world. A bright, wonderful star ap- peared upon the horizon of their vision. A star SO sloriously beautiful that the beholders were moved to marvellous astonishment.
 Tho three wise men came out of the East and in wondering inquiry followed It's guid- ance till they came to the spot where lay the iowly Babe of Bethlehem. They fell down iD holy adoratioD. for they knew that new light had come into the world-a new religion had come to bless mankind. the religion of free dom and civilization and enlightenment.
 The world received these ''tidings of great joy" yet the emancipation of mankind was slow; for hedged in by the superstition and ig- norance and bigotry of the Old World the new religion, like plant in the dark, was of feeble and unhealthy growth. Nearly fifteen centuries passed away. and yet mankind was not free. but still lay enthralled in the meshes of horrors, such as those of the Spanish Inqu- sition.
 About this time another great event startled Into life the pulseof the sluggish world. Three ships had sailed out over the dark and stormy deep; a new world had been found. and the three great nations of the earth. like the three wise men, came out of the East and also started | upon journey d inquiry.
 | What found they Though they knew it | not, they found the congenial cline, the fer l tile soil, where the religion of the Babe of Bethlehem might, freed from superstition and Old World fancies. take root afresh, and | reaching the highest perfection blossom into | flowers of love for the adornment of the City | of the New Jerusalem.
 | As the coming of Christ was necessary for | the emancipation of mankind. so the discovery of America was necessary for tho highest ful- l fllment of that emancipation. As the Star of Bethlehem was the herald of Christ. so the dis covery of America is the herald of His Millen- | nium.
 But thoughts like these were far from the minds of men.
 over the civilized world. and Mystery spread her veil of encbantment over all and Super- stitition lent her willing aid The great na- tions of the earth dreamed dreams of conquest built, the boldest and bravest seamen were brought into reQuisition. and vessels. like coasts, or spreading sail struck boldly out into DknOwn seas.
 Many of these with their crews went down | in storm and darkness. to have placed oppo- site their names on the register. ..She sailed from port and was never heard of more. - Others. more fortunate, returned like the dove to the ark to carry the olive branch of good news. No tale was too wild to be believed. No extravaganza too improbable to gain many supporters. The whole world was set crazy, and excitement, adventure and ambition ran rampant
 The young man looked forward to the time when he, freed from parental authority. might diyeSt himself of the letters which held him to the home nest, and enlisting under some bold sea dog, might sail away to try his for | tune in unknown realms,
 The old man, broken in health and fortune, longe to try anew the battle of life. in the hope of repairing the former and of restoring the latter.
 of happiness. She built her castle in fear and | trembling, as she thought with inexpressible delight of the happy future in store for her tune. might make for her pretty bower among the vines and roses.
 | The navigator saw with speculative vision | thousands of miles of watery waste where he. sailing in his frail barque, might, after bray | ing the fury of the elements and overcoming unknown dangers, return home ladened with | spells, and have his name forever inscribed upon the shining roll of fame.
 | The adventurer, whose ruling motive was the greed for gold, saw wastes of shining sand heaped upon the seashore, and each tiny par | tce Of silica, in his distorted imagination, be- came grain of the precious metal. | The priest saw mutitudes of heathens wait ing to be instructed. and extensive fields wait | ing to be brought unIer the domin ion of Holy | Church
 Even the poor convict in his dungeon felt his bosom light up with one returning ray of | hope as he dreamed of a probable release from his confinement, that he might in a new world begin new life filled with new aspirations. l Fountains Of youth. rivers whose sands were gold. cities whose gates and walls were of fine pearls, all lay in this Land of Romance To the Englishman 1t was Utopia; to the French man 1t was Arcadia; to the Spaniard it was Fl Dorado. Tales of Indian massacres fami ne hardshps, horrors. all failed to dampen the ardor of these dreamers. In fact. their en- tnusasm rose 10 such pitch that they deem- ed it glory to. endure, to suffer, nay, even to die. for the sake of their favorite schemes.
 Naturally, these undef1ned longings and as- piratious, in time, took tangible shape. Out of tbis chaotic confusion came plans;
 many of them vague and wild it is true. yet many of them capable of being carried into execution. and the tide of ex poration and dis coyery moved steadily on.
 France being a Catholic country. contained m her calendar many days upon which no valuable commodity in her markets and French sailors were not slow to avail them selves ot the immense shoals of codnsh and inacKerei along the shores of Newfoundland. For years they obtained immense revenue | from this valuable trade, yet they thought not of permanent settlement.
 | Spain gave almost her whole attention to the search.f for gold. and rot in vain, for often her sailors, as in the case of Cortez and Pizar- TO returned to the mother country with vessels
 laden with, treasure, which had been extorted from the ignorant and helpless savages. From riches obtained in this manner Spain became one or the weaithiest countries in the world. But, as IS too often tue result of ill-gOtten gains, her very wealth andeminence were but the precursors of q more complete downfall.
 England. being the greatest seafarng na- ton of the tune, sent out her bOldest and bra est seamen.. We find the flower of her young men sailing under such adventurous spirits as Drake and Cavendisn. and the most hardy did not hesitate to take service under the renown- ed Capt. Kidd.
 The voyages of many of these seamen rival those of Sinbad the Sailor; and for those read CTS whose tastes require the, adventursome and sensational, they furnish an inexhastible fund. Yet. it was left to Spain to accomplish the first voyage around the world. The cir cumstances which led to this are curious and interesting.
 q Far to the east lay the fertile and prodac- tive Spice Islands. whose products brought fabulous prices in European markets. A quar- rel arose between Spain and Portugal over the possession Of these islands. The Pope upon being appealed to, drew an imaginary line one