Norwich bulletin., 1916-11-28
THE CENTURY ..OF COLUMBUS
Dr. James J. Walsh of New York Tells Norwich Audience of Great Men That Lived in the Dscoverer,s Tme-Ho,w Sratfordon-Avon Cared for It's Poor-Our Hospitals Disgrace Until Century Ago-Lectured in Town Hall Under Auspices of White Cross Council K of C.

time. During Columbus Century we have such painters as Fra Angelica, Fra BartoIommeo, Fra Hippo Lippi, Boticelli. Correggio, the Bellifis, Ti- nese not to mention host of others who would be Readers in art at any time but this.
 The Revival of Learning.
 It was not alone in art however that this period was so great. This is the period of the revival of learning when the schools of the humanitfes spread all over Europe. The women receiv- ed their chance for education as well as the men. We all know the women of the Renaissance. butpdo not realize that they are in the immediate back ground Of the discovery of America. In Italy and France. In Spain, in England. in Germany, everywhere they were learned women. Nor was scieInce neglected. Copernicus revolutionized modern asthonomy. Mathematics had a corresponding development, Vesa- Illus was the father of modern anato- my. This is the time of fine printing and wonderful, beautiful binding. The handsomest books in the world were made. Tn every department of hu- man thought and striving they were doing marvellous work. No wonder Columbus discovered America jusat at this time. His achievement was only on par with what others all around him were doing. That is what Amer jeans ought to realize, that the dis covery of America was just one event in the midst of one or the greatest centuries of human existence
 It might perhaps be thought that at least in special service and care for others, our generation which has specialized in this matter should be considered as far ahead of Columbus Century, but any such thought would only come to the mind of one who did not know the older period The most beautiful hospitals in the world, some of them are still stand ing to bear evidences of the fact, were erected in Columbus Century. There were hospitals in practically every town of 5,003 inhabitants or more. Our modern hospitals were a disgrace un- til generation ago.. The worst hos pttals ever built were erected from 1900 to 1850, and that period was the worst organization of nursing ever known. Their care for the old was beautiful Ours is almost a crime We take an old husband and wife and put them in poorhouses, separating them after a lifetime together. The little almshouse at Stratrord on Avon erected in 1450, each house with two little rooms to accommodate an old husband and wife so that they might pass their declining years together, shows how differently they solved this problem. Next door to the guild aims houses of the Guild school and the boys playground was where the old folks could look on. We put the old away from the children, their only consolation, they put them near them. They had old age pensions. and disa- hility pensions, they cared finely for orphans, they helped widows to keep the family together, they distributed orphan children in families, they had no orphan asylunns, those combina- tions which has been forced upon us by a great city life. and they cared for community problems as we are be- ginning to do now. That is what Co., lumbus Century should 4nean to an American who wants to know the real place of the great navfgators in his tory.
 Prolonged applause greeted Dr. Walsh at the conclusion of his ad- dress.
 The Committees.
 The committee oe arrangements con- sisted of John J. Sullivan, M. J. Kelly. William H. Harrington, RI. J. Coscoran and John M. Lee
 The ushers were Harold Desmond, Thomas McCafrey, N. J. Speilnan, Joseph Farrell. Joseph F. Gadle, Jr., John D. Lee. Thomas Sheehan.