The spell of Columbus's great discovery stirred the soul of Harry Hall.
Holding his half-smoked cigar, he repeated the familiar couplet,
"Man's inhumanity to man
Makes countless thousands mourn."
"Strange that four centuries go by before even Genoa erects his monument,
which we have admired to-day; though monuments to the memory of Columbus
have been erected in many cities, yet, how tardy the world was to
appreciate the value of Columbus's discovery, a third of the land of the
globe. How pitiful the last days of Columbus, who, old and ill, returning
in 1504 from his fourth voyage to the new world, found his patroness
Isabella dying, and Ferdinand heartless. With no money to pay his bills,
Columbus died May 20th, 1505, in poor quarters at Valladolid, his last
words being, 'Into thy hands, O Lord, I commit my spirit.' It is now
natural perhaps that many cities should claim his birth and his bones."
"Yes," said Lucille, "how encouraging some of the world's kind epitaphs
would be if they were only spoken before death came. Two hemispheres now
eagerly study the inspiring story of Columbus's faith, courage,
perseverance, and success."
Henley said, "Captain Hall, you are young yet, but by the time you reach
my age you will have little use for the sentiment young people so often
indulge in.
Pages:
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281