The Irish standard., 1906-08-11
Land! and the mariner kneels in

prayer,
Under a sky serene and blue,
Placed in the Holy Saviours care.
Let us learn to-day from this story
For our pure. high dreams to do and
dare;
Let us pray for virtues precious gold,
And Well find new world every
where.
a world of beauty and royal truth: !
\ life on earth that is half divine,
Where the brightest dreams of our
joyous youth
Like stars in the winter night shall
shine
What though the waters may toss and
roar:
What if our dreams seem all in
vaino
With heart and hand let us bend to
the oar
While God and duty, our charts. re-
main.
We'll would it be for the honor of
human nature" eXclaims Irving, could
history, like romance, close with the
consummation of the hero's wishes;
-, %lo,, Tn1, s., IL,
full fruition Of great and we'll merit
ed prosperity. But his history is des-
tined to furnish another proof, If
proof be wanting, of the inconsistency
of public favor, even when won by
distinguished services. No greatness
was ever acquired by more incOnteSta-
BILE, unalloyed and exalted benefits
rendered to mankind, yet none ever
drew on it's possessor more unremit-
ting jealousy and defamation. or in
voved him in more unmerited dis
tress and difficulty" With this omin-
GUS prelude, the historian begins his
brilliant description of the setting
forth of Columbus on his second voy-
age-a bit of word painting that would
chain the attention of even the most
Indifferent student. and wholesomely
divert the mind addicted to Worship
ping heroes of dime novel construct
ton. What a panorama is disclosed!
The bay of Cadiz, whitened with the
ilect--three large ships of heavy bur-
den. and fourteen caravels "loitering
with tapping sails"--the motley crowd
hurrying on board. the high spirited
cavalier the hardy navigator, the call
culating speculator, the missionary
tbut why pale from the cloisterD,
Columbus. conspicuous for his height
and bearing, his STRIPPING sons. Diega
and Fernando. proud of the glory of
their fathcr-;l are elements of
word picture. strong i'm human inter-
est. Strong. too, is the description OF
the return. when 1.-The sick. the idle.
the protligate and the fractious"
crowded the caravels. Never did Il
more miserable and disappointed crew
return from Il land of PROMISE
What IL lesson of indomitablc per-
severance is afforded by the life
story of Columbus. And not of per-
severance alone, but of higher at
tributes of character as well,--grati-
1ude. generous ambition and exalted
sacrifice. The Admiral of CASTLE,
on his return from his first voyage,
is no less noble a study in his abase
ment. when. prOstratcd before Fredi-
nand and Isabella, and unable to utter
q word for the violence Of his tears
and sobbings.' or when. his fourth
voyage having ended diS:lstrOuSly, lie
rcnounced his personal claims and
pleaded With them for the pittance
due his seamen. They are poor
said he. 'and it is now nearly three
years since they left their home. They
and they bring Invaluable tidings, fol
which their maicsties ought to give
thanks to God, and rejoice" Yet some
of those for whom he iumbed him
self to the dust had been his enemies
and were in no small degree rcspon-
Sible for his fallen fortunes.
From his death-bed lie appealed
again for justice to his men. but APP
pcaled in vain. II have done all that
! could do" lie wrote: Il leave the
rest to God, whom | have ever found
propitious to me in my necessities
His remaining days We're given tc
preparation for the final voyage
across the vaster sea-"
Concluding his account of the
career of Columbus. the historian re.
fers to the attempts made in recent
days to vindicate the conduct OF
Ferdinand, and contends that tc
screen such injustice--in so eminent
Il character--from the Reproduction OF
mankind is to deprive history of on,
of it's most important uses. The in
gratitude of Ferdinand should stant
recorded in it's fullest extent, he as.