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Show COLUMBUS DAY Columbus day, October 12, 'celebrates the career of one of the world's greatest men, and the event which is perhaps the greatest in history next to the life of Jesus Christ. The discovery of America created a new force which has turned the world upside down. It gave an opportunity for the establishment of democracy, democ-racy, which could not flourish in Europe under the heel of tyrants and conquerors. The career of a great man is worth studying on the part of all ambitious people. We should look at such a life, and ask how it was that this man was able to start a movement that should so chanee historv. Probably in early life Christopher Columbus was about like any boy His father was a weaver, and his family was just an ordinary household of skilled working work-ing people. Columbus had no university training, but he had an inquiring and scientific mind. He studied the history of exploration, and inquired into the stories sto-ries that voyagers brought home- He reached the conclusion con-clusion that there was land beyond the vast ocean, which seemed endless to the people of that time. So today the inquiring mind and desire to acquire knowledge will carry anyone a long way. It takes courage cour-age to accomplish great deeds. Columbus had to keep sailing westward into the tempestuous and unknown sea, when his superstitious sailors were frightened and ready to quit and go home. If our modern people will have these same qualities of thorough inquiry and study, and courage to face the unknown, they too can accomplish unusual results. The plain and humble origin of Columbus suggests that people do not have to have wealth or high social position or great influ-' ence to accomplish great ends in life. |