New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-10-12

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COLUMBUS FAMOUS TRIP
INTO THE UNKNOWN
When Christopher Columbus set
sail with the Pinta, the Nina and the
Santa Maria into the Sea OF Dark
ness" on that historic day. August 3.
1@s:. he aimed 10 reach India. on the
other aide Of the world. But he had
no idea how tar he had to travel
due west to reach his destination.
indeed, although a new continent
intercepted his ships less than mid
way. Columbus never knew 1t. He
lived and died In the belief he
actually had discovered the tabled
land Of the Orient.
When Columbus started 1t was
with the conviction that the world
was round. and that 1t could be cir
COMMUNICATED. But no one In the
world had the slightest notion how
big the globe happened to be. Co.
lumbus, it is clear. guessed it to be
about one-third its actual size.
What if the earth had been az
large as Jupiter instead! A surface
122 times that Of the earth's would
have given the eXplorer-successors
OF Columbus hundreds il not thou
sands of years OF opportunity to ex-
plore and discover.
The theory that the earth was
round was believed by many educat-
ed people since the days of Aristotle,
before the beginning of the Christian
era. The macs Of the people. OF
course, held to the more understand
able notion that the earth was flat.
And even many of the classes who
accepted the round earth theory
were quite certain that II ship
sailed down the sides of the globe 1t
would slip off.
The exploit OF Columbus was the
quintessence of bravery because he
deliberately chose to risk his life in
the attempt to solve the great
mystery. He would not sail along
some seacoast, but straight out into
the unknown, defying the posi-
bility Of dropping into space: and If
not that, risking contests with the
sea monsters that were supposed to
live In the deeps away from land.
Thus week after week the three
ships sailed. hearts heavy aboard,
fear gripping the crews, mutinies
discouraged with difficulty.
Everyone knows the rest-how
land was discovered; how the great
navigator who had an idea and the
ability to execute it became one OF
histeFy's greatest characters: how
he made four trips In all, established
colonies; yet faced criticism never
theless and once was brought back
in chains 1t is great human story.
one Of achievement extraordinary,
OF deyotion to a fixed idea and its
fulfiilment. come what may.
The spirit of Columbus still actu-
ates the human race. We still have
explorers. and of brave men who
defy the unknown there Is no dearth.
Never in the history of the world
have there been larger number.
But whereas more than 400 years
ago the men of iron nerve had to
be content with puny sailing vessels,
our explorers fly through the air,
and where they need ships to estab-
lish basis. as in the case of Com
mander Byrd's trip to the South
Polar regions. they nevertheless
take with them the pinions OF
artificial flight with which to pene-
trate into the inner recesses of such
spots on the earth's surface that are
still not fully explored
And instead of placing any Of oul
explorers In chains, even temporar.
lily, We honor them as the heroes o.
the age. Thus times have changed