Evening star., 1901-07-20

The Discovery of America.
Did any one help Columbus to discover
the western hemisphere?
History has hitherto said YES" and
given credit to Toscanelli, Florentine as
tronomer, who was said to have written
descriptive letter to the great Genoese ex-
planning in detail accompanying map
showing the approximate longitude and lat
itude Of the undiscovered lands.
Mr.. Henry Vignaud, first secretary Of the
United States embassy in Paris, is about to
publish book which ella ms to explode the
entire Toscanellf tradition.
Mr. Vignaud who is an enthusiast on the
question Of the Columbus explorations, pos
sesses one Of the most complete libraries
in the world touching this particular sub
ject. 1t embraces many rare and in some
cases unique manuscripts telling the story
of the several voyages of discovery and
the circumstances that led up to them. In
none of these says Mr.. Vignaud, is there
any authentic evidence that Toscanelli had
ever had any acquaintance or communica-
tion with Columbus. and" adds the sec
retary, ''in other trustworthy documents
found In Italy and Spain there are countless
proofs that the alleged letter and map of
the Florentine savant were wilful forger-
ies"
Mr. Vignaud's researches revealed that
the first mention Of the Toscanelli docu-
ment appeared in an Italian translation,
published in 1911. Of a work by Columbus
son. which was brought out years before
in Spain, and that the original work made
no reference to Toscanelli
"Of all the manuscripts and printed mat
ter" says Mr. Vignaud. 'in the Columbian
library at Seville established by the great
discoverer's son in honor Of his father,
there is never as much as a hint at any
suggestions received from the Florentine
astronomer Moreover, since Toscanelli
died in 14S2, eight years after his famous
letter is alleged to have been written, there
are indubitable proofs about the letter it
self that II cOuld not DOSSihlv have been
written within sixty years after its sup
posed authors DEATH
What these proofs consist Of. Mr.. Wig
maud will disclose in his forthcoming work,
which is likely to provoke much contro-
versy in the scientific world.
Meantime it is Of interest to remember
that on the occasion of the 40Oth anniver-
sary Of the discovery Of America, colos-
sal monument to Toscanelli was unveiled
at Florence, which bears this inscription:
ITO the great Florentine whose genius
inspired Columbus in giving new world
to mankind.
Soaring the English Public.
There seems to be a decided tendency in
England just at present to create "scares"
over various matters that the up-to-date
Leagues and associations believe demand
the strict attention Of the public and seek
to bring pressure upon parliament.
Sometimes the zeal of these ambitious
societies has the effect Of causing harm
in lust the quarter that 1t should be
avoided. 1 had an instance Of this yester-
day while walking along Whitehall. I saw
a number Of sandwich men bearing boards
with posters, such as "Strengthen the
Fleet" "a stinted navy means starving
people," and others of a similar tenor. At
the same time I noticed q number Of
Frenchmen walking in the direction Of the
houses of parliament, and to each of these
the men handed leaflet headed "A mes
sage from the Mediterranean" which set
forth the alleged deficiencies of the British
fleet, the ammunition, etc, and arrived at
the conclusion printed in conspicuous let
ters that "the fighting fleets of Britain
are not ready for war, and until the Medi-
terranean squadron is made efficient in
every respect the whole structure of the
empire rests on Quicksand. One of the
Frenchmen at once proceeded to translate
the sheet to his fellows, who will no doubt
carry home the conviction that English
men are in a state OF panic over their
navy. There Is probably no place In the
universe SO fertile for fads as the British
empire.
Late London Gossip.
Admirers Of Lord Leighton are taking
the opportunity to renew acquaintance
with his works by visiting Leighton House.
where are on view at the present moment
a number Of his pictures. as we'll as the
drawings and sketches. The one that will
attract the most attention, though it is
familiar to those who visited the Leighton
exhibition at the Royal Academy q few