ing ships and everywhere is stir and commotion. Above the eastern horizon all is crimson and gold, and the flood of rad iance of the October sun reveals a long sandy beach. A landing is effected, and with the royal banner of Spain in one hand and a sword in the other, Columbus takes posses sion of the land, and on his knees thanks God for their safe journey. The "Worldseeking Genoese" had accomplished something unheard of; undreamed of; unsought for—the discovery of a "New World." The discovery of the American Continent may fairly be considered the most extraordinary event, in the history of the world. The more we contemplate this subject, the more deeply are we impressed with its magnitude. We cannot but marvel when we consider that this Continent—nearly as large as Europe and Africa combined; surpassing in its na tive splendor the wildest dreams of Europe or of Oriental fancy occupied by one of the families of the human race,—should lie five thousand years undiscovered. But the time had not yet come in which the "New World" should yield her in crease to fill the coffers of the "Old." The governments of Egypt and Assyria, Tyre and Carthage, Greece and Rome, must first flourish and fall; ancient civilization must be weighed in the balance and its imbecility shown before the shout of "Alabama" is heard on other shores. The "Old World" was thrilled as the news spread that the dark and restless waves of the Atlantic washed the shores of another world. High and low were alike agitated over this most wonderful event. The full significance of the discovery of America in the history of the world did not appear to the mind of even Columbus. It was indeed "The Finding of a Jewel" in the rough; it gave the possibility of opening the resources of tropical climes and of more temper ate regions; the sparkling gems and the precious metals, the heavily timbered mountains and the exceedingly fertile valleys are our rich heritage. As a result we see a contin ent of republics whose chief characteristics, religious, social, The Finding of ( Jewel.
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