Attempt > Volume 3

70 THE ATTEMPT.
the new continent, and still his tale of life thrills many a heart. Born at a period
when most of the states of Europe, just emerging from the barbarism and ignorance
of the dark ages, threw most of their energies into the pursuit of navigation and com¬
merce ; and in a town, whose trade was its life, he had every inducement to take to the
sea. He studied deeply those sciences connected with navigation, geography, mathe¬
matics, astronomy ; and a thoughtful use of that knowledge by his ever-active and
observing mind first formed his noble theory, and then enabled him to persevere in
pursuit of it, and surmount every difficulty thrown in his way. His idea was
deeply rooted in his impulsive and visionary mind; and he believed himself under
the special direction of the Lord Himself, who sent angels with him; while he read
forth some of the prophecies to foretell his discoveiy. Had these fancies been all his
foundation, he would have been a " vain dreamer" indeed, as ckeamer he was, though
a wise prophetic one, whose truths are foretold by common sense and study. We
are too apt now to under-value his tremendous difficulties. The wisest and most
learned men in Europe mocked him ; and they led the kings, who alone in such days
had wealth to assist such princely men in such royal schemes. We all know how
Isabella of Spain saved her time and nation from disgrace and loss; and the land
was found. But the great, poor, burning heart knew not all he found; he believed it
to be only a western route to India, and that he had circumnavigated the globe ; he
believed that he had won for himself fame and wealth, and all that mortals prizj on
earth, with the blessing from on high. He knew not that enemies, more powerful
than he, would tear him from his dear bought station of Admiral of the Indies;
would send him home in chains after a third voyage, in which he discovered South
America; would keep from him even the hard-won glory of giving to his discovery
his name ; would hunt him even to his lonely death, in a poor hovel in Valladolid.
Other and more interested governors usurped his place, who ground down the gentle
dark-browed inhabitants to a sad slave-life in the silver mines, instead of raising
them to their own level, as they boasted they would do, through their Catholic
religion. The glory had departed from amid the Spaniards when Columbus passed
away, but his spirit rested on the land he discovered, and though she bears not his
name on her forehead, she finds a shrine for it in all her children's hearts, more
precious and more lasting than that massive tablet, which tells us that—
" To Castile and Leon,
Columbus hatt discovered a New World."
LuTEA Reseda.