es,
which probably mine eyes may never more behold, yet I can never forget
thee. May thy great Creator bless thee, and make thee a happy land,
while thy rivers flow and thy mountains endure. And, though He has
spoken nothing plainly in His word concerning thee, yet has he blest
thee abundantly, and given thee good things in possession, and a
prospect of more glorious things in time to come. His name shall be
known, feared, and loved through all thy western regions, and to the
utmost bounds of thy vast extensive continent.

O America! land of liberty, peace, and plenty, in thee I drew my first
breath, in thee all my kindred dwell. I beheld thee in thy lowest state,
crushed down under misfortunes, struggling with poverty, war, and
disgrace. I have lived to behold thee free and independent, rising to
glory and extensive empire, blessed with all the good things of this
life, and a happy prospect of better things to come. I can say, "Lord,
now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen
thy salvation," which thou hast made known to my native land, in the
sight, and to the astonishment, of all the nations of the earth.

I die; but God will surely visit America, and make it a vast flourishing
and extensive empire; will take it under His protection, and bless it
abundantly--but the prospect is too glorious for my pen to describe. I
add no more.

[Illustration: STATUE OF COLUMBUS, IN FAIRMOUNT PARK, PHILADELPHIA.
Presented by Italian Citizens. (See page 281.)]

DE MORTUIS, NIL NISI BONUM.

JUSTIN WINSOR, a celebrated American critical historian. Born,
1831.

No man craves more than Columbus to be judged with all the palliations
demanded of his own age and ours. It would have been well for his memory
if he had died when his master work was done.

* * * * *

His discovery was a blunder; his blunder was a new world; the New World
is his monument.

ON A PORTRAIT OF COLUMBUS.

GEORGE E. WOODBERRY, in the _Century Magazine_, May, 1892. By
permission of the author and the Century Company.

Was this his face, and these the finding eyes
That plucked a new world from the rolling seas?
Who, serving Christ, whom most he sought to please,
Willed his one thought until he saw arise
Man's other home and earthly paradise--
His early vision, when with stalwart knees
He pushed the boat from his young olive trees
And sailed to wrest