The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-02-22
The Isle of Honor.


additional souls to give it population Of
300, 600. Its name was called in Greek
Cyrnos, from Cyrne, son of Hercules.
In our school days we always remember
ed Corsica by its resemblance to clinch-
ed left hand with upward pointing thumb.
The area of Corsica is about 120 by SO
miles. There are eight rivers, none OF
which, however, are navigable. The
highest mountain does not attain 1900
feet, and of several lakes, only two, the
Monte Rotondo. and the Nino, are of any
importance. Nevertheless it would be
hard indeed to find any other country in
the world, where in so small an area, so
much wild beauty and picturesque seem
cry abound.
The first settlers were the Celts,
Phnnicians, Phoceans, Etruscans and
Carthaginians. In 260 B. C. the Romans
mastered the sturdy little isle, only to be
ousted in the Nv century by the Vandals.
After Charlemagne, and the noble heart
ed Count Bonifacia, came Sambucuccio
d'Alando, QOOO, who endeavored to re-
store order and bring peace and pros
perity to Corsica. But the island soon
fell under the rule of Pisa, succeeded by
that of Genoa. The formers yoke was
light, but the latter governed with no
gentle hand. Acts of tyranny and re-
preston were rife. The Corsican patri-
OF, Samplers Corse de Bastelica raised
the standard of revolt and enlisted the
favor of the then reigning French King.
Corsica was declared annexed to France.
In the sea coast town of Calvi, Christie
pher Columbus was born in 1441. The
Genoese, jealous of SO illustrious fact
having occurred on the rebel isle, de-
stroyed the family archives of the Co.
lombos, and had it officially declared that
Christopher Columbus was born at Genoa.
But it is quite certain that Columbus
was really born at Calvi. The name
Colombo is very common one in the
town, and in a narrow side street stands
a house, bearing this inscription: Here
was born,i in l441, Christopher Columbus,
by the discovery of the
New World, when Calvi was under the
Genoese domination, died in Valladolid,
20 May, 1900" Such are facts. I'm
happily in 1859 the island again passed
into the hands of the Genoese. For
many years Corsica continued to struggle
for her independence from the hated
In 1876, German adven-
turer, a picturesque enough figure,
Theodore de Newhoff, came to the island,
with plentiful supply of arms, ammu-
milton and money. He offered to lead the
ncensed Corsicans against the Genoese.
The grateful and impulsive islanders pro-
claimed HIM King Theodore the First.
This state of affairs, as may be imagin-
ed, did not last long. Resources being
wanting, Theodore fled the country, real
izing the inadvisability of being king,
without the filthy but necessary lucre.
He died in poverty in London in 1855,
and lies buried in the church yard of St.
Annis, Soho. The slab surmounted by a
crown. bears a rather lengthy inscrip-
ion, ending with the verse:
THE grave. great teacher, to a level brings
Heroes and beggars, galley slaves and kings,
But Theodore the moral learned ere dead;
cate poured its lesson on his living head
3estow'd kingdom and denied him bread
Then followed the stirring day of Pas
al Paoli, the Corsican hero and emanci-
Gator. His memory is still cherished. |
Hardly an inn, or house, even of the
poorer classes, where his picture is not |
o be found. He was called "The Faith
n of His Country" He fought against
1enoa, and wished to resist the French,
wen after the island had been coded to
hem. In the ardor of his noble soul he
lesired to see Corsica, the Isle of Honor,
is we'll as of beauty, free and independ-
mt, and master of its own destiny. 1t
vas not to be. By strange coincidence
Corsica was officially declared French,
he very day that Napoleon Bonaparte,
he greatest Corsican of them all, first
Jaw the light in Ajaccio, on Aug. Is,
1853. Paoli retired to London, but re-
urned to Corsica, in 1890. The French
expedition against Sardinia, having fail
ed, this disaster was laid at Paoli's door.
It was declared, by no less an authority
han Pozzo di Borgo, the Procurator-
General, that Paoli's desire was to hui
initiate France, exasperate the Corsicans,
and make OF their beloved isle, an indie
pendent Corsica.
For few brief months, at Paoli's sug-
gestion, the island passed under the
domination of the English. Sir Gilbert
Elliot was named viceroy. He was a
man totally unfit for such position, he
took no interest in the islanders or their
island. Seeing the discomfort of the
Corsicans Napoleon sent troops to
Ajaccio, and the English relinguished all
hold on the rugged little island. In 1896
Corsica became definitely French. Since
then it has Jared we'll or Jared ill, at the
hands of the Government, according to
the way one looks at it, whether from
Corsican or French point of view. 1t
certainly enjoys some privileges, not &C