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


adamant. Was it not true that the world flat,
and that if you went far enough to the westward
you would roll off the edge, doubtless down to
Hades? would have to get a pretty stiff
price to make him to go to the edge of the world
and tumble off. And the majority wouldn't go at
any price. Then there was the matter of Holy
Water. Nothing but the best of water, blessed by
an Archbishop, would satisfy Columbus. This, as
the Archbishop pointed out, delicate matter
requiring little donation for the welfare of Mother
Church.
Besides, my son." said the eminent divine, ut
would not be seemly for ordinary seaman to
sprinkle twenty thousand savages into salvation. A
special dispensation must be had, otherwise would
the sprlnkling be of no avail. This viii cost you
two thousand gold pieces"
Columbus that the Archbishop was perfectly
right and paid over the two thousand pieces
"Then there is the matter of the Holy Water"
said his emnence ut will require four hundred
casks OF Holy Water, at the least, to anoit the
heather. This means the blessing of four hundred
individual casks; which, you perceive, my son. is
quite task. Fifty silver pieces cask is indeed
too small
But, Father" pleaded poor Columbus, "in that
case shall have little nothing left wherewith to
hire crew. Could you not lower the price a
trifle?"
Impossible, my son. impossible! You should be
ashamed to suggest that do So Especially when
am overlooking one other thing Has not his
Holiness the Pope solemny, and with book and with
BELL proclaimed the earth to be flat? Ii it were not
for the fact that you kiss the and thus declare
the truth of the vision vouchsafed you by the good
Saint Ncodemus, | should drive you from nv pre-
sence for uttering heresy Perhaps the blessed saint
will perform miracle and carry you safe to your
destination Otherwise, the world being undoubt-
eddy flat, you will fall the edge and be utterly
destroyed Yet beware. my son, lest thru unwilling
ness to contribute to Mother Church for her bless
ings given you thru me- here anonted / be driven
to doubling your sincerity"
Thus spoken to Columbus FASTENED to produce his
pieces of silver.
God will doubtless provide seamen for me- even
tho lack the means to pay them," he said sadly
See what it is to have faith, and to trust to
Mother Church., replied the Eminent Bishop "My
son, your reward is now In the prisons of the
city are divers convicts, murderers and such A
word to the queen and your crew is complete
Blessed are the true believers for verify God work
eth them good!'
In transport of gratitude and pious fervor Col
umbus fell his knees and kissed the hand the
Archbishop held out to him.
With the casks of precious HOLY Water safely
slowed in the holds of his ships and with the crew
SO miracously recruited finally aboard each mem
Der of it with manaces or iron on wrist and ankle
Columbus cleared the harbor mouth Then followed
weary days of sailing, and wearer weeks Only
Columbus's faith never faltered Every dav he re-
paired to his cabin to hearten himself with bottle
OF wine and to burn various colored candles before
small image of the Holy Virgin and also before
one of the good Saint Nicodemus. To him came the
anxious mate, saying:
Captain, the men murmur.s
KNOCK them down." said Columbus absent-mind-
eddy.
The sea hath strange look; ] am afraid"
Have a drink" invited Columbus
What shall we do?"
Sail on and on!" cried the dauntless mariner.
And they sailed on. Sailed and over the nm
known western ocean, until against the far horizon
leaned trees and hills with an inviting beach at their
loot. And on the beach were the sayages twenty
thousand of them, holding out their hands and sing
ing praises to the Virgin and to the good Saint
Nicodemus for having sent them this divine succor
With what joy did Columbus break out his casks Of
holy water and baptise them men women and
children into the true faith Yet is it not true that
salvation IS cheap at any price? In return for the
precious sprinklngs of holy water, Columbus re-
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