Evening star., 1948-10-13

ks
Such change in policy might make it Jun
necessary to write editorials on barking dogs.
PEG JOHNSON,
Secretary. Capital Dog Training Club Of
Washington, d. c., Inc.
Columbus, Man of Destiny
To the Editor Of The star:
We honor Christopher Columbus on the
456th anniversary of his discovery of America
We honor him as one of the great souls who
conquered destiny against great odds and in
the face of adversely.
His storm tossed life rolled over the bitter
waves Of hate, as his caravels did over the
Atlantic Ocean. His ship of life sailed every
sea Of sorrow and through nights of despair
Today, although the name of Columbus is
well-known all over the civilized world, he
has remained one Of the most enigmatic of
men Of destiny. Few others in history can
compare with him in this respect. Vicente
Blasco Ibanez, the noted Spanish writer, stated
that after studying and compiling all available
information regarding the life and personality
OF Columbus for over period of IL years, he
was unable to clear any of the shadows sur
rounding his life.
Columbus begins to live in history in the year
1896, when he went to Spain to obtain help
Tor his great adventure He was then man
already mature in years and nothing really is
known of his previous life Blasco Ibanez
pictures "the Great Admiral, with aquiline
features, red, freckled countenance clear bright
eyes, and hair prematurely white, carried long
and loose to the shoulders"
During his YOUTH says the Spanish his
torian Pereira, "he had been an adventurer
without country"
Columbus had stated, when he arrived in
Spain, that he was a seaman from Genoa"
Genoa then was famous seaport; its people
were noted as the best seamen of their time.
To come from Genoa was, therefore, a passport
OF good seamanship. But this never salts
factorily was proved, and to this day no less
than "A cities in Europe claim to be Columbus
birthplace, three nationalities are attributed to-
him and, what is more strange yet, his last
resting place still is q subject of discussion and
doubt.
1t is worthy Of notice that those historians
who give Columbus Spanish nationality also
give him q Jewish origin, stating that his
mother was Jewess They explain in that
way the mystery in which it seems that Co.
lunbus wished to enshroud himself in order to
avoid the suspicion and persecution which the
Jews We're subject to at that time In Spain.
Wrote Spanish Not Italian.
All of Columbus notes and diaries are writ.
ten in excellent Spanish. He always used that
language in his correspondence also, even when
writing to the italian ambassador in Spain.
He always signed his name In Spanish-Cristo-
bal Colon-and never Cristoforo Colombo, the
italian equivalent. The few times he expressed
himself in italian he did so awkwardly Why?
Blasco Ibanez once said that he considered
Columbus lone Of the best writers Of his time"
and quotes many examples of his writings to
this effect.
After his discovery and exploration of Amer
lea, Columbus died in Spain in relative oblivion
His body was taken years later to the island
OF Santo Domingo, of which he had been the
first governor, and buried there with great
pornp and ceremony. In the year 1795 when
Spain surrenderd to France the Spanish part
OF that island, it was decided to remove Co.
lumbus' body, and his remains were trans
ferred to the cathedral at Havana. BY the end
OF the 18th century, when Spain recognized
the independence Of Cuba, Columbus remains
were again transferred to Seville and there
they were supposed to lie in the cathedral
But in 1877, nearly q century after Columbus
body had been transferred from the cathedral
OF santo Domingo Bishop Coccia and priest
named Bellini. publicly declared that the Span
tsh commissioners of the 18th century had
the body of the Great Admiral, they had taken
the body of his son, for both were under the
same altar. They presented some weighty evi-
dence to back their statement and today many
people believe that the cathedral of Santo
Domingo Is still the authentic resting place of
the earthly remains Of Columbus the Dis
coverer.
Mystery Still Unsolved.
Many writer's and learned professors have
made of this search of the story of Columbus
favorite hobby. Perhaps, they one day will
be able to prove who the discoverer of America
really was: This strange man of destiny with IA
birthplaces, three nationalities and two tombs.
And perhaps more centuries will 60 by and the
triple myster of Columbus true nationality,
birthplace and tomb remain unsolved. But
one thing is certain and the rest does not
matter: His moment OF supreme triumph on
the dawn of that last third day of grace, when
the shout Of: Land ahead!" was heard in the
forecastle Of his flagship, and a new continent
was discovered. He had found through his
faith and persistence q new abode for men in
an already overcrowded, oppressed world.
A New World had been discovered, with un-
believable God-given wealth buried in its soil.
A new civilization was to be born here, and
nurtured with the blood and sweat of people
from every country, in land of mighty rivers
rich valleys and giant forests which was to be
called America. 1t was Gods country!
JAMES H. boutwell,.
Buyers Strike Suggested
70 the Editor Of The Star:
H. r. Bradford Is right in The Star Of Oc-
tober Z. What does Congress care for the poor?
High prices for foods, rents, transportation,