We must recollect that the enthusiasm created by the news of the discovery of America was far from being as great as people now imagine, and if we may judge from the silence of Spanish poets and historians of the fifteenth century, it produced less effect in Spain than anywhere else. At all events, the popularity of Columbus lasted scarcely six months, as deceptions commenced with the first letters that were sent from Hispaniola, and they never ceased whilst he was living. In fact, it is only between April 20, 1493, which is the date of his arrival in Barcelona, and the 20th of May following, when he left that city to embark for the second expedition (during the short s.p.a.ce of six weeks), that his portrait might have been painted; although it was not then a Spanish notion, by any means. Neither Boabdil nor Gonzalvo de Cordova, whose exploits were certainly much more admired by the Spaniards than those of Columbus, were honored in that form during their lifetime. Even the portraits of Ferdinand and Isabella, although attributed to Antonio del Rincon, are only fancy pictures of the close of the sixteenth century.
The popularity of Columbus was short-lived because he led the Spanish nation to believe that gold was plentiful and easily obtained in Cuba and Hispaniola, whilst the Spaniards who, seduced by his enthusiastic descriptions, crossed the Atlantic in search of wealth, found nothing but sufferings and poverty. Those who managed to return home arrived in Spain absolutely dest.i.tute. They were n.o.blemen, who clamored at the court and all over the country, charging "the stranger" with having deceived them. (Historia de los Reyes Catolicos, cap. lx.x.xv, f. 188; Las Casas, lib. i, cap. cxxii, vol. ii, p. 176; Andres Bernaldez, cap.
cx.x.xi, vol. ii, p. 77.) It was not under such circ.u.mstances that Spaniards would have caused his portrait to be painted. The oldest effigy of Columbus known (a rough wood-cut in _Jovius_, ill.u.s.trium virorum vitae, Florentiae, 1549, folio), was made at least forty years after his death, and in Italy, where he never returned after leaving it as a poor and unknown artizan. Let it be enough for us to know that he was above the medium height, robust, with sandy hair, a face elongated, flushed and freckled, vivid light gray eyes, the nose shaped like the beak of an eagle, and that he always was dressed like a monk.
(Bernaldez, Oviedo, Las Casas, and the author of the Libretto, all eye-witnesses.)--H. Harrisse"s "Columbus, and the Bank of St. George, in Genoa."]
[Footnote 27: What strikes the paleographer, when studying the handwriting of Christopher Columbus, is the boldness of the penmanship.
You can see at a glance that he was a very rapid caligrapher, and one accustomed to write a great deal. This certainly was his reputation. The numberless memoirs, pet.i.tions, and letters which flew from his pen gave even rise to jokes and bywords. Francesillo de Zuniga, Charles V."s jester, in one of his jocular epistles exclaims: "I hope to G.o.d that Gutierrez will always have all the paper he wants, for he writes more than Ptolemy and than Columbus, the discoverer of the Indies."--Harrisse.]
Columbus and Columbia.
COLUMBUS.
Look up, look forth, and on.
There"s light in the dawning sky.
The clouds are parting, the night is gone.
Prepare for the work of the day.
--_Bayard Taylor._
_A Castilla y Leon, Nuevo mundo dio Colon._
To Castille and Leon Columbus gave a New World.
Inscription upon Hernando Columbus" tomb, in the pavement of the cathedral at Seville, Spain. Also upon the Columbus Monument in the Paseo de Recoletos, Madrid.
COLUMBUS
REVERENCE AND WONDER.
JOHN ADAMS, American lawyer and statesman, second President of the United States. Born at Braintree (now Quincy), Norfolk County, Ma.s.s., October 19, 1735. President, March 4, 1797-March 4, 1801.
Died at Braintree July 4, 1826.
I always consider the discovery of America, with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in Providence, for the illumination of the ignorant and the emanc.i.p.ation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth.
THE GREATNESS OF COLUMBUS.
WILLIAM LIVINGSTON ALDEN, an American author. Born in Ma.s.sachusetts October 9, 1837. From his "Life of Columbus" (1882), published by Messrs. Henry Holt & Co., New York City.
Whatever flaws there may have been in the man, he was of a finer clay than his fellows, for he could dream dreams that their dull imaginations could not conceive. He belonged to the same land which gave birth to Garibaldi, and, like the Great Captain, the Great Admiral lived in a high, pure atmosphere of splendid visions, far removed from and above his fellow-men. The greatness of Columbus can not be argued away. The glow of his enthusiasm kindles our own even at the long distance of four hundred years, and his heroic figure looms grander through successive centuries.
ANCIENT ANCHORS.
Two anchors that Columbus carried in his ships are exhibited at the World"s Fair. The anchors were found by Columbian Commissioner Ober near two old wells at San Salvador. He had photographs and accurate models made. These reproductions were sent to Paris, where expert antiquarians p.r.o.nounced them to be fifteenth century anchors, and undoubtedly those lost by Columbus in his wreck off San Salvador. One of these has been presented to the United States and the other is loaned to the Fair.
COLUMBUS AND THE CONVENT OF LA RaBIDA.
(ANONYMOUS.)
It was at the door of the convent of La Rabida that Columbus, disappointed and down-hearted, asked for food and shelter for himself and his child. It was here that he found an asylum for a few years while he developed his plans, and prepared the arguments which he submitted to the council at Salamanca. It was in one of the rooms of this convent that he met the Dominican monks in debate, and it was here also that he conferred with Alonzo Pinzon, who afterward commanded one of the vessels of his fleet. In this convent Columbus lived while he was making preparations for his voyage, and on the morning that he sailed from Palos he attended himself the little chapel. There is no building in the world so closely identified with his discovery as this.
THE EARNESTNESS OF COLUMBUS.
(ANONYMOUS.)
Look at Christopher Columbus. Consider the disheartening difficulties and vexatious delays he had to encounter; the doubts of the skeptical, the sneers of the learned, the cavils of the cautious, and the opposition, or at least the indifference, of nearly all. And then the dangers of an untried, unexplored ocean. Is it by any means probable he would have persevered had he not possessed that earnest enthusiasm which was characteristic of the great discoverer? What mind can conceive or tongue can tell the great results which have followed, and will continue to follow in all coming time, from what this single individual accomplished? A new continent has been discovered; nations planted whose wealth and power already begin to eclipse those of the Old World, and whose empires stretch far away beneath the setting sun. Inst.i.tutions of learning, liberty, and religion have been established on the broad basis of equal rights to all. It is true, America might have been discovered by what we call some fortunate accident. But, in all probability, it would have remained unknown for centuries, had not some _earnest man_, like Columbus, arisen, whose adventurous spirit would be roused, rather than repressed, by difficulty and danger.
EACH THE COLUMBUS OF HIS OWN SOUL.
(ANONYMOUS.)
Every man has within himself a continent of undiscovered character.
Happy is he who acts the Columbus to his own soul.
A SUPERIOR SOUL.
(CLADERA. SPANISH.)
His soul was superior to the age in which he lived. For him was reserved the great enterprise of traversing that sea which had given rise to so many fables, and of deciphering the mystery of his time.
COLUMBUS DARED THE MAIN.
SAMUEL ROGERS. (See _post_, page 275.)
When first Columbus dared the Western main, Spanned the broad gulf, and gave a world to Spain, How thrilled his soul with tumult of delight, When through the silence of the sleepless night Burst shouts of triumph.
THE WORLD A SEAMAN"S HAND CONFERRED.
J.R. LOWELL. (See _post_, page 204.)
Joy, joy for Spain! a seaman"s hand confers These glorious gifts, for a new world is hers.
But where is he, that light whose radiance glows, The loadstone of succeeding mariners?
Behold him crushed beneath o"ermastering woes-- Hopeless, heart-broken, chained, abandoned to his foes.