The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-10-01

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"a ESSSN *:*::$-4' less captain Columbus actuated
80 MS&% %:+:::: by the most pous and christian
kR # :#*# of motives, sailed across the
W #%N t::*::: unknown and discovered
~ $50 <Ia&# America The taking of the mo-
S 80 mentous voyage came about in
this fashion H
$%=: - = Columbus a native of Italy
%##:= rs III and daring sailor as well, was
SA@sas> WE1 in the habit Of hanging up mod
a~SSSIt:*Sk*HlT els of little ships in the church
n. ~ of the Blessed st. Nieodemus, to
see if they would point their pros at the altar If
they did then all was well; and if they didn't the
Saint had refused the gift and bad voyage might be
expected The latter meant that the hardy
mariner would have to expend some silver pieces
on candles to burn before the shrine of the Holy
Virgin to offset the bad luck promised by the Saint
This meant less drinks at the tavern of The Dying
Swan; but to date had been highly successful in
bringing the good sailor home from his voyages,
safe in ship and in body
Behold then, the pious captain repairing on a
certain day to the church to ascertain in the usual
fashion, if his Saintship promised good or bad luck
for coming voyage to Spain with cargo of the
finest grape wine, vouchsafed vision in which
he saw, far off, beyond great sea- mutitudes OF
half-naked savages kneeling a beach and holding
out their hands to him in supplication. They were
calling on the name of the Blessed Saviour, and
begging for someone, in Jesus name, to come and
baptise them with Holy Water so they would be
saved from the horrible fate of dying outside the
true faith. AS Columbus looked at them with pity
and with feelings of horror for their terrible pred
cament, st. Nicodemus opened his lips and spoke
to him.
Rise Columbus. in the name of the saints and
Holy Mother Church. and carry salvation West to
those unhappy heather who still in state OF
Natural Sin"
From the moment of hearing those words, the
doughty captain felt that he dared not, for his
souls sake refuse the mission so sacredly entrusted
- 10 a1nfhS xxIfh
which to undertake voyage westward, nor had, he
money wherewith to purchase and outfit one. In
this parlous state, greatly troubled in mind, did
Columbus finally come to the court of Queen Isa-
belle of Spain to win the queens ear.
"You say" said this wise and yirtuous monarch,
shat you saw twenty thousand savages holding out
their hands and praying for the saving graces of
Holy Water?"
"At least that many, if not more your majesty"
replied Columbus. "And many Of them grovelling
on the beach and praying to the Holy Mother her
self to intercede for them" IL. ~,
"This is indeed wonderful" said the pious queen
who was devout catholic and not unmoved by such
pathetic recital. 'fYou are right, my good cap
tain the plea, even of savages, must not go UNI
answered. Did you say they trinkets of bar
barrie splendor?"
@Of pearl and of gold your majesty l could
the glinting their jewels | sure
they would be willing to reward generously who
should bring them the Holy Water they crave"
That night the queen said to her lege lord the
king: T have need for twenty thousand gold pieces
for the sa1vaging of souls" But the king had just
lost heavily at cards and in mood to listen
to pious pleas.
an that case" he said ungraciously, you had
better pawn the Crown Jewels"
So the next day the queen sent for the Jews.
How much am ! offered for this splendid tara,
this diamond stomaeher, this jewel incrusted gold
netting?"
Twenty five hundred pieces of silver" piped up
the thinest and hungriest looking of the Jews.
twenty-five hundred pieces of silver!" screened
the queen twenty-five hundred pieces of silver!
1sraelitish dog! dare you insult me by offering
little?"
But the jewels not genuine illustrious one
pleaded another Jew "They are paste. BY the
beard of Abraham, they are not worth what was
offered"
Very wel,' said the queen in her iciest tones
1T has come to this then: that Isabelle of Spain
Queen of Granada, is told by the lowest mongrels
in her kingdom that her adornments are cheap glass;