The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-09-26

SHQDp GenOeSe sailor led even
tually TO the foundation
of the United States, it is appropriate
al this time to inquire how, in addi-
tion to the annual celebration of Land
ing day, we honor his memory. What
memorials to Columbus, for instance,
are there in the Capital of the nation
which bears his name in its personif-
cation of "Columbus?"
The visitor to Washington, who goes
by train, sees one of the greatest mon
uments ever erected to the memory of
Columbus the moment he steps out of
the Union station there. On the plaza
in front of the station is the nations
formal tribute to the Italian navigator
the magnificent Columbus fountain
by dorado Taft. The outstanding fea-
ture of the fountain is a stone shaft
about 40 feet high, surmounted by a
globe which forms the background for
the statue of Columbus, who stands
upon the PROV of a vessel, with arms
folded in an attitude of meditation.
The figurehead of the ship is beau
of discovery.
On each side Of the shaft are mas
sive figures representing the New and
Old worlds. The New world is an
American Indian, reaching over his
shoulder for an arrow from his culver.
The Old world is typified by patri-
archal Caucasin of heroic mold and
1Chf f,1l ole ho thn
of the shaft suggests the influence of
Columbus on the growth of mans
knowledge of the shape Of the earth.
1t is supported by four American
eagles, standing at the corners OF the
top of the shaft, with wings partly ex-
tended. On the rear of the shaft is a
medallion representing Ferdinand and
Isabella of Spain, the patrons of Co
lumbus' voyage of discovery, and the
group of figures is completed by two
enormous lions which crouch on ped
estals at the ends of the balustrade
The plan for erecting this memorial
was started by fraternal order, the
knights of Columbus, who solicited
contributions from the various coun-
ellis of the order throughout the coun-
try. To the large amount of money
which this organization raised was
added an appropriation Of 100000 by
congress and the work Of erecting the
memorial was given to a commission
composed Of the chairman of the SEN
ate and house committees on the H.
brary, the secretary of state, the sec
rotary of war and the supreme knight
of the Order of the Knights of Column
bus. The commission selected the
plaza in front of the Union station as
the site for the memorial and adopted
the design submitted by Daniel III.
Burnham, architect of the Union sta
mission of Fine Arts. and dorado Taft,
sculptor, both of Chicago.
The Capitol contains two striking
reminders of Columbus. In the ro-
tunda is the magnificent painting by
John Vanderlyn, an American artist
and pupil Of Gilbert Stuart, which de-
picts "The Landing of Columbus"
This picture is so well known that it
needs no further description here. In
the lobby of the senate gallery is the
painting Of another scene in the life
of Columbus by another American art
list. 1t is "The Recall of Columbus"
by A. G. Heaton, a descendant of the
famous painter, Rembrandt Peale.
This painting, completed in 1883 from
studies made in Spain, was sold to
the United States government and
copied by engraving on the 50-cent
stamp of the Columbian series, issued
to commemorate the Worlds Column
bian exposition at Chicago in 1898.
This painting represents the his
toric scene on the Bridge of Pines,
two leagues from Granada, when Co
lumbus, having been refused the finan-
cial aid of King Ferdinand for his eX-
petition, was riding sadly away from
the capital, only to be Overtaken by
messenger from Queen Isabella, who
had decided to give her aid even though
her husband would not. In the pic
ture Columbus, sitting on little white
mule, has just been given the queens
letter by the richly-dressed messenger
who has dismounted from his fine
steed and is bowling impressively as
he hands the all-impOrtant document
to the future discOverer OF the New
world. 1t was the turning point in the
career of Christopher Columbus and
as such, the preservation of this his