The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-09-29
THE NAMING OF AMERICA.

America Was Named.
The celebration of the four hun
dredth anniversary of the naming OF
America will probably bring once more
into notice the claims of Columbus and
of Amerigo Vespucci to the honor OF
discovery. At the time or the Colum-
bian Exposition the controversy as to
whether Columbus or Amerigo Ves-
pucci was the original navigator ragged
in several learned geographical sotle-
ties In Europe, while these rival claims
of both were disputed in toto by the
partisans of third claimant, and a
still earlier voyager named st. Bren-
dan. AS between the friends Of Co.
lumbus and of Vespucci honors appear
to be even. The former is embalmed
in history as the real voyager, while
those of the latter claim tina. his name
IS associated for all time with his
deeds in the very name of the country
itself. The fortune Of the name oi
America is not little singular as an
instance of the fitness and the power
of a name notwithstanding what tha
poet insinuated to the contrary.
The name Of American" has too be-
come the symbol Of an originality and
prowess to which not even the majestic
word Roman" could aspire in its
erandest and most triumphant period
Great oaks from little acorns grew,
and 1t is worth knowing that the name
Amerlgo was first borne by a poor
Italian whom his biographers dignity
by coupling his birth with the era OF
Lorenzo the Magnificent; that this
name was afterwards given to single
province of the New World, next
spread over the whole southern conti-
nent then passed to the Northern,
later on became the distinguishing ap-
nellation of the whole vast continent
and so grew and expanded until the
word American" bas some to be uni
versally accepted as the antithesis Of
everything that related to the tradi-
tions of the crowns and courts and
chain of circumstances!
Amerigo Vespucci was born at Flor
ence, March 8, 1451, and in youth was
studious young man, working out prob
lens of philosophical character. He
therefore early attracted attention
even from princes and mobiles, and at
the age of 40 years was induced ia
settle in Seville.
In his capacity as an officer OF the
city, Vespucci had to draw up state
ment of the expeditions of Columbus
and was requested by the King OF Por-
tugal to set out and discover a route
to the land of spices" as India was
then called, further south than Brazil.
In his letter to Lorenzo de Medici and
to the Duke of Lorraine he gave an ac-
count of these voyages and Of the con-
dition of the Western World In one oil
which it was said that the torrid zone
is habitable and inhabited.
The first city of the new world, ne
there also tells us consisted Of forty
four bell shaped houses and was built
ON piles in the middle of lake. the
dwellings being connected together
by drawbridges. Some of the inhabt
tants approached the galleons OF Yes
pucci in canoes formed from the hol
low trunk of tree ard after gazing al
Vespucci and his sailors the natives
padded back to their insulated city
with great precipitation. They soon re-
turned, however. bringing with them
sixteen young women and showed a
disposition to get aboard the ships, a
20 HrTlni in6 fx, e., 4 rfA n
looking at matters, would indicate that
those on the mainland had met sailors
before. or had at least understood
their habits. Vespucci then sailed eighty
leagues farther along the coast, land
ing occasionally. and at last entering
a sheltered haven, where he was re-
ceived with hospitality and he and his
crew spent nine days all having in the
language of our day "a high old time
The country seemed quite populous ant
great multitudes assembled to admire
the dress and compilations Of the Eu-
ropeans whom th"y entertained as II
they were beings Of superior race.
In short there is Tiuch ground for be-
lief that Vespucci was the discoverer OF
the mainland while the credit OF first
seeing the islands of the West Indies
probably belonged to Columbus.
The relative claims to the distinction
OF first discovering the west has caused
q bitter contest over the character and
exploits of Vespucci, who the naughty
admirers of Columbus claim was only
a beef contractor in Castillo, and a
master pilot instead of a navigator.
We are much obliged to Vespucci for
giving the early inhabitants OF this
country SC good reputation In his an
mails and while we are the heirs of his
name there Is also on our part s.rcpg
temptation to keep his memory greer
In spite of the efforts CT his detIaotors
to wither or eifscc Il.
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