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Show Vieoiies of Glnmbus in the Nations Capital MtJCM fCii tKT:4 Wmg of -4 v $fr 4 f ft' V - , ColumbuS Z I ff j I V X - , x J Paintmq by JoVin Vanderlyn n the Cap tol fek. N 1 -1 -Jf 1 7 By ELMO SCOTT WATSON -N OCTOBER 12 we cele-3, cele-3, v brate the four hundred vi f and thirty-eighth anm-., anm-., jvm versary of the landing of "JSJSFT )Vfi Christopher Columbus on trfroit far "ie suores of the New lnnnflfiC worlt'' and Insofar as the N P daring voS'ase of this jjljyni) Genoese sailor led eventually even-tually to the foundation of the United States, it is appropriate at this time to inquire how, in addition addi-tion to the annual celebration of Landing 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 personification personifi-cation of "Columbus?" The visitor to Washington, who goes by train, sees one of the greatest monuments 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 nation's formal tribute to the Italian navigator 1 the magnificent Columbus fountain by Lorado Taft. The outstanding feature fea-ture of the fountain is a stone shaft about 45 feet high, surmounted by a globe which forms the background for the statue of Columbus, who stands upon the prow of a vessel, with arms folded In an attitude of meditation. The figurehead of the ship is a beautiful beau-tiful female figure typifying the spirit of discovery. On each side of the shaft are massive 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 quiver. The Old world is typified by a patriarchal patri-archal Caucasin of heroic mold and thoughtful mien. The globe at the top of the shaft suggests the Influence of Columbus on the growth of man's knowledge of the shape of the earth. It is supported by four American eagles, standing at the corners of the top of the shaft, with wings partly extended. ex-tended. On the rear of the shaft Is a medallion representing Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain,- the patrons of Columbus' Co-lumbus' voyage of discovery, and the group of figures is completed by two enormous lions which crouch on pedestals ped-estals at the ends of the balustrade. The plan for erecting this memorial was started by a fraternal order, the Knights of Columbus, who solicited contributions from the various councils coun-cils of the order throughout the country. coun-try. To the large amount of money which this organization raised was added an appropriation of $100,000 by congress and the work of erecting the memorial was given to a commission composed of the chairman of the senate sen-ate and house committees on the library, li-brary, the secretary of state, the secretary sec-retary of war and the supreme knight of the Order of the Knights of Columbus. Colum-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 H. Burnham. architect of the Union station sta-tion and member of the National Commission Com-mission of Fine Arts, and Lorado Taft, sculptor, both of Chicago. The Capitol contains two striking reminders of Columbus. In the rotunda ro-tunda is the magnificent painting by John Vnnderlyn, an American iirlist and pupil of Gilbert Stuart, which depicts 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 artist. art-ist. It is "The Recall of Columbus" by A. G. Heaton, a descendant of the famous painter, Rembrandt Peale. This painting, completed in 1SS3 from studies made in Spain, was sold to the United States government and copied by engraving on the 50-cent stamp of the Columbian scries, issued to commemorate the World's Columbian Colum-bian exposition at Chicago in I Stir?. This painting represents the historic his-toric scene on the Bridire of Pines, two leagues from Granada, when Columbus, Co-lumbus, having been refused the financial finan-cial aid of King Ferdinand for his ex- --BiJf J v 7M - t the Discovery m " "Mff ?K i 1493 Book ' - .. "jl fi a : . J if V--j "pi Columbus .Memorial,!)! front of Union Station pedition, was riding sadly away from the capital, only to be overtaken by a messenger from Queen Isabella, who had decided to give her aid even though her, husband would not. In the picture pic-ture Columbus, sitting on a little white mule, has just been given the queen's letter by the richly-dressed messenger who has dismounted from his fine steed and Is bowing impressively as he hands the all-Important document to the future discoverer of the New world. It was the turning point in the career of Christopher Columbus and as such, the preservation of this historic his-toric scene In a painting deserves a place among the other pictured "great moments In American history" which adorn the walls of the Capitol. In addition to these memorials to Columbus in Washington, there is in the Library of Congress a collection of original documents and rare books relating to the discovery of the New world which are of almost incalculable value and which form the most direct link of the United States with the valiant sailor who made it possible for this nation to be. They constitute a unique "literary memorial" to Columbus Co-lumbus and the headliner of them all is the Columbus Codex which has been characterized as a "document of the highest historical importance and which will be better appreciated as time goes on." To understand the historical importance impor-tance of the Codex is necessary to review re-view brefiy certain facts about the stormy life of Columbus, especially those which brought this document into in-to existence. In 1409, while he was on his third voyage to America, his enemies at home in Spain were doing all they could to bring about li is downfall. They succeeded in turning King Ferdinand, Fer-dinand, who from the first had not been nearly as enthusiastic concerning concern-ing the venture as was his queen, Isabella, Is-abella, against Columbus. And even the queen seemed either disinclined to defend him, or was helpless to do so. So Columbus, who had returned In 1493 from his first voyage as a national na-tional hero, now came home in irons and in disgrace. But almost as soon as he had arrived, Ferdinand and Is: abelln experienced a change of heart. Columbus was immediately set free and received an invitation to visit the king and queen, which he did and was warmly received. He told the royal pair of his adventures abroad and received re-ceived commendation. Howeve'r, he was not so successful In gaining restitution and property to which he was entitled. The best he was able to do was to secure a declaration dec-laration from the throne fixing the extent ex-tent and manner of restitution. The result was disappointing. More complications com-plications continued to pile ud. Columbus expected to leave soon on a fourth voyage. With his privileges, rights, grants, and even his Spanish citizenship imperiled, he took steps to prevent, if possible, their loss. The result was the Columbus Codex. On January 5, 1502, he called into consultation two alcaldes, or city judges, and several notaries. They drew up and had transcribed a statement state-ment of the explorer's rights. Several copies were made, these to be deposited deposit-ed where they could be safely preserved. pre-served. Thus Columbus hoped to protect pro-tect himself against his enemies. Thirty-live documents were included in this Codex. They were the discoverer's discov-erer's charter as an admiral, viceroy and governor general, his warrant, granted by Isabella, authorizing him to equip ships, to share in the expense and profits of the voyage to India, to adjudicate and distribute lands, ami letters from various dignitaries expressing ex-pressing appreciation of his services. Of the four copies of the Codex' made In 1502. three are known to ex ist today, including the one In the possession pos-session of this country. One went to the republic of Genoa. Today It Is highly treasured by the municipality, being contained in a bronze (oust of Columbus in the municipal palace. The other copy was misplaced after 1670. But in 1880 It turned up In Paris. It Is believed to have found its way there when Napoleon ordered all archives deposited in the French capital in 1809, and documents wera sent from all parts of Europe. Res-, titution was later made, but the Codex apparently was overlooked. It is In Paris today. The fourth copy, which is unaccounted unac-counted for, was on paper rather than parchment. It went to Don Alonzo Sanchez de Carvajal, who soon after left for Hispaniola. The documents disappeared and may have been destroyed, de-stroyed, for they have never yet been brought to light. The story of how America came into possession of its copy of the Codex Is a romantic one. In 1818 Edward Everett, the gifted New England orator, or-ator, was rummaging through an old book shop in Florence, Italy, when he came across the manuscript of nbout 80 pages in characters which appeared ap-peared to be those of Columbus' time. In 1823, the Codex at Geneva was published pub-lished and Everett discovered that the .manuscript in his possession coincided precisely with those in the Genoese volume. After Everett made this statement In 1824 the manuscript again dropped from public notice and apparently was forgotten by all concerned. About 1890, Justin Winsor, engaged in his monumental "Life of Columbus," wrote to Dr. William Everett, whose father, Edward Everett, bad died, asking ask-ing whether he might inspect the relic. Doctor Everett was unable to locate It at that time, but In 1897 it came to light in the locked lower part of a bookcase which had remained undisturbed undis-turbed after his father's death. Still its adventures before reaching the safe custody of the American government gov-ernment were not at an end. Once after being sent to London for the inspection in-spection of experts it lay In its wrappings wrap-pings on a, table in the Everett home when the room in which it was was swept by flames from which, however, the precious document was seemingly miraculously spared. It was finally sold to the Library of Congress by Doctor Everett for a sum which was nominal compared with what It would have commanded in the open market. But the Codex is not the only treasure treas-ure of Columbiana owned by the American people and preserved in their great library in Washington. Ancient books of only a few crudely printed pages which first told of his great achievement are also included in the collection. Columbus landed at Lisbon upon his return from the first voyage on March 4, 1493. and under date of March 14 he dispatched to Gabriel, sometimes called Raphael, Sanchez, or Sanxis, treasurer to Ferdinand Fer-dinand and Isabella, Ills famous letter, written aboard bis caravel, reporting his discovery of the New world. The Spanish ambassador to Rome at that time was Cardinal Bernudin Carvajal, and on July 19 his eminence delivered deliv-ered before Pope Alexander VI an oration ora-tion concerning this event which was printed in Rome, presumably by I'lan-nok, I'lan-nok, in that same year. This was the first wide heralding of the momentous discovery and a copy of this rare book is among the treasures of the library. The library also owns the first printed print-ed biography of Columbus. This is found in its copy of the first polyglot edition of the Scriptures, printod at Genoa in 1510. The story of the life of the discoverer appears in it as ii marginal note to the 19th psalm. U3 !' Western Newspaper Union.) |