The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-24
QUEEN WHO HELPED COLUMBUS

Mildred Stapley, in Harper's Magazine for June.
 It was only recently. and most for tuitously too, that I learned the truth about Spains great Queen. Of course, they had told me in school how she offered to pawn her jewels for Columbus. That | is story likely to titilate the youthful l fancy; and the teacher satisfied accord ingly, let pass the opportune moment for | telling us that Isabella was not only the most wonderful woman of her day, but almost without exception of any day. and 1 that American women even more than Spanish should honor her; for the great work she did for Spain was undone by her descendants. but what she did for our own favored quarter of the globe has been our undying benefit.
 The shriveled, wiry little peasantress. who showed us about the great fortress at Medina, told me all these things. "The 1 Queen," she said, reverently, had great affection for this place. It is in the heart of old Castle, and she loved Castile passionately. She knew every inch of the province You know she lived in the saddle? S senora, through two wars. Poor ladyi Her last ride was from Se- govia here She had gone for a brief rest after long nursing her daughter, Joan the Mad. And the next day on learning that Joan had left the castle alone and afoot to walk to Flanders, Isabella mount ed her horse again and galoped back. Ton know she always kept the heetest An dalusian horses? Si, senora. she rode all night They had brought the princess back, meanwhile, but no farther than the gate, where sine insisted on remaining to make a fresh start in the morning; and that's where her poor heartbroken mother found her-down there" Cpointing to the main entfance) and coaxed her indoors. Poor Isabellal She led pure and noble life only to die of broken heart.'
 The story, told in that same language that Isabella herself had spoken. touched me strangely. I looked in awe around the dim. destitute, dungeon like brick room where the Queen breathed her last one dreary November morn some 400 years ago. The tale kept repeating itself in my mind-it was tremendous. Here was | woman who rode through two cam paigns (always mounted on the swiftest of Andalusian steeds); who generously and fearessly enabled Columbus to dis cover a world for posterity; who was sovereign of a realm greater than imperial Rome had known: who was a devoted mother, and who died of a broken heart! Yes, it was tremendous. Brilliant gifts courage that beggared description, an ex- alted imagination tor only such would have given ear to the mad adventurer from Geroa)-these qualities have too often been unsuitaby lodged in some ill l living male sovereign. If, instead. noble lhearted woman had possessed them 1 must know of her.
 As a great general, Isabella is one of the most stirring figures in Spains mili- tary annals. She was the first to organize the army, which before her day had never known what uniformity of preparation and action could accomplish in warfare. As an ndefatigable horsewoman she is nothing short of astounding. This is par ticularly the case if one has seen the forbidding, uhsheltered country over which, from childhood to the grave, she was constantly dashing. Even today there is hardly 10 mile stretch of good road in all Spain. Four centuries ago
 1t was worse. In many parts, where 1sa- bella's horse carried her is still the only path-sorne narrow mule path slSrting a deep gorge or some broad highway across the plains exposed 10 icy winter wind or burning summer sun and dust. Yet her resistless energy never halted before sea- son, time or route. As the custodian of the castle had said. the Queen literally lived in the saddle.