Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-10-14
Discovery Produced Worlds
Greatest Geographical
Change.
New Land Was Dedicated to
the Saviour of Man
kind.
CAME OF LOWLY PARENTAGE

The Southern GudTuldh, VI A~A'''S
Rock. has an ecellent article on
Columbus from the pen OF DR.. Vim
cent Falisi, former resident OF this
citv and member of Mackin Council
and the Knights of Columbus, from
which we extract the following
History has recorded many events
that have made, here and there,
changes of vast Importance, but OF
those that affected the whole exist
inc world two stand out most clearly.
First. the coming of God made man,
which coming revolutioni0ed IDEAS
and ideals. The second, one that
produced the greatest geographical
change that the world has ever
known. was that which took place
IN October. 419 years ago7-the land
ing on the shores of new world Dy
that greatest of nautical heroes
Christopher Columbus. BY those
who seek to disparage Columbus
great stress is laid upon the proDa-
bilities that others came to America
before him. Since we believe that
ali mankind found origin in Adam
and Eve. and since Columbus, upon
his arrival, found human beings, 1t is
very evident that some one did as
cover America before Columbus.
Then we have the story of the Mound
Builders. but in latter years the con-
sensus of opinion is that they We're
simply a tribe of cultured INDIANS
Again we have the Norsemen, with
hazy records, yet since they left no
proof. such as utensil, cattle or other
domestic animals, and since the first
Of these records was written zOO
years after the supposed discovery,
we have reason to believe, with such
historians as Bryant, Weise and
Beamust, that there is not single
item In the evidence advanced to
prove the presence Of Norsemen on
the soil of North America.
: His was not journey of the North
pole type, productive Of no practical
benefit to mankind, but a journey
undertaken to put an end to the dit-
ficult and perilous voyage to india
and though the new route was
longer. vet he hoped that more pro-
pitious seas would more than COM
pensate for the length of the journey
and thereby eliminate the horrors
and dangers of the African coast.
And how nearly correct were his
considering the |
and instruments OF his
day, for the proof will show that he
was on a straight line to India. But
an Almighty Providence saw fit to
place an obstacle in his path, and
that obstacle-America-has proven
to be of far more benefit to humanity
than could have been the accomplish
ment of a journey to India.
Columbus, like the majority of the
worlds great men, came OF lowly |
his father being a poor
but young Christopher
was not to be bound to the making
OF small lights, and hence he chose
the sea for the display OF his en-
ergy and made numerous voyages to
all parts of the known world, nor
were his leisure hours spent in idle
ness or useless recreation, for he
used them for study in those
branches that would better fit him
TO take a commanding position in his
profession. Astronomy, mathemat-
les and geography he strove con-
tinually to master, and II was in the
pursuit of these studies that he was
convinced of the earth's shape and
that voyage to India by the west
ern route was a possibility. But he
was poor; he must needs look to
others for support. He argued and
gave his proofs to many without
avail. He was scoffed at and ridi-
culed as one mentally unbalanced;
his theories as the visionary vapors
Of an abnormal intellect. But after
years of fruitless endeavor he per-
suaded the good Queen Isabella of
Spain to assist him, though the court
Of Spain was bankrupt following the !,
wars with the Moors, yet history tells
us that so impressed was she with
the learning and earnestness OF
that she pawned her
Jewels in order TO FIT up an expedi-
ton. His expedition set sail from
Palos on Friday. August 3, after
and all his crew had re-
ceiyed the sacnaments. During the
voyage which followed Columbus
called into action all the attributes
ll truly great COhinduhNif AOi NC
had to deal with mutiny, nostalgia
and despair, but he was capable OF
each situation as It arose
until finally. on the night of october
1, 1892. Columbus saw in the dis
lance a tiny light moving TO and fro
that light which has steadily |
grown and grown until now It's
radiance enclrcles the whole globe,
to innermost recesses,
the gloem of tyrannical
darkness. beckoning to every down
people and making Hight the
path to a better and happier exist
once in this, our own free America.
thus again duplicating that great
light Of Scripture which led a people
out OF bondage into land of milk
and honey. But Columbus. fearful, I