n
to produce on the twenty-fourth of April, 1893, a reproduction of
the solemn pageant in which, in Barcelona, four centuries before, the
Spanish court commemorated the great discovery.

From this time, for several weeks, a series of pageants and festivities
surrounded him. At no other period of his life were such honors paid to
him. It was at one of the banquets, at which he was present, that
the incident of the egg, so often told in connection with the great
discovery, took place. A flippant courtier--of that large class of
people who stay at home when great deeds are done, and afterwards
depreciate the doers of them--had the impertinence to ask Columbus, if
the adventure so much praised was not, after all, a very simple matter.
He probably said "a short voyage of four or five weeks; was it anything
more?" Columbus replied by giving him an egg which was on the table, and
asking him if he could stand it on one end. He said he could not, and
the other guests said that they could not. Columbus tapped it on the
table so as to break the end of the shell, and the egg stood erect. "It
is easy enough," he said, "when any one has shown you how."

It is well to remember, that if after years showed that the ruler of
Spain wearied in his gratitude, Columbus was, at the time, welcomed with
the enthusiasm which he deserved. From the very grains of gold brought
home in this first triumph, the queen, Isabella, had the golden
illumination wrought of a most beautiful missal-book.

Distinguished artists decorated the book, and the portraits of
sovereigns then on the throne appear as the representations of King
David, King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and other royal personages. This
book she gave afterwards to her grandson, Charles V, of whom it has been
said that perhaps no man in modern times has done the world more harm.

This precious book, bearing on its gilded leaves the first fruits of
America, is now preserved in the Royal Library at Madrid.

The time was not occupied merely in shows and banquets. There was no
difficulty now, about funds for a second expedition. Directions were
given that it might be set forward as quickly as possible, and on an
imposing scale. For it was feared at court that King John of Portugal,
the successful rival of Spain, thus far, in maritime adventure, might
anticipate further discovery. The sovereigns at once sent an embassy to
the pope, not simply to announce the discovery, but to obtain from him