The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-05-28

Journey over the seas to the Eden of
 Holy Writ exercised a. profound in
 fluence, and to some extent was
 doubtless responsible for the decision
 Of Ferdinand and Isabella to aid Coz 1umbus in his project
 After the discovery of America by Columbus the faith in the existence of the promised land of St. Brendan (which was known to the Irish as I'Brazil-became more pronounced than ever. It was the legend of St
 Brendan which inspired Ponce de Leon to set out on his quest for the
 fabulous fountain of eternal youth. The Spanish government sent out
 many ships to search for the island of St. Brendan, the last expedition as late as two centuries ago. During the seventeenth century ships left
 Ireland almost every year to search for the lost island of St. Brendan. Leslie of GIasslough purchased from Charles I. a patent grant of this isl- and, and spent his fortune and his life searching for it.
 According to the legend, St Bren- dan wandered about the seas, from island to island. for seven years, be- fore he found Eden, ''the fairest country that a man might see, clear and bright a heavenly sight to be- hold. All the trees were loaded with fruit,'' says one of the ancient chron- icles, teand the herbage with flowers It was always day. and temperate, neither hot nor cold; and they saw a
 river which they durst not cross. Then came a man who welcomed them saying, Be ye now joyful, for l this is the land which ye sought. So Iade your ship with fruit, and depart hastily for ye may no longer abide here Ye shall return to your own country, and soon after die And this river which ye see here parteth the world asunder. for on that side of the water may no man come that is in Ife.' Then St. Brendan and his
 monks took of the fruit, and also
 great plenty of precious stones and
 sailed home into Ireland, where their
 brethren received them with great
 joy, giving thanks to God, who had kept them all those seven years from
 many peri1s, and at last brought them and honor. world without end
 Anen.''
 Various legendary accounts are given of the seven years wandertngs
 of St. Brendan, and these have led some investigators to believe that Brendan really reached the islands of the West Indies, and that Florida was the promised land" While dis
 missing as absurd and impossible the miraculous features of the legends, it is quite possible that the story of St Brendan had basis of fact
 Brendan left his monastery and set out on his voyage in search of an island which was said to be the iden- tical paradise inhabited by Adam and Eve. He procured a stauneh ship, and, say the chroniclers, put in it a supply of victuals sufficient for seven years. He took with him fourteen monks to man the ship and sailed
 away and soon the shores of the Emerald Isle were left far behind For forty days and forty nights they sailed westward, and at the end of that time came upon an island It was gigantic rock standing shear up from the sea, and three days elapsed before they found 8 harbor Having landed "a fair hound'' ap- preached and guided Brendan and his manks to "a fall where they found tables spread with meat and drink.'' The canine guide disappeared, and after night spent in beds ready pre- pared for them, the mo1kish travel CTS returned to their ship and sailed away.
 "A long tine'' elapsed before they again sighted land. This was an isl and full of green pasture, wherein were the greatest sheep they ever saw, for each sheep was as big as an ox.'' Then came to them an old man who explained that this was the Isl-