varies from a minimum of seven feet at
Julianshaab to a maximum of twelve and a half feet at Frederikshaab.]

CHARACTERISTICS OF COLUMBUS

Considering how much more real the hero of a biography appears if we can
picture him accurately in our mind's eye, and see him "in his habit as he
lived," it is singularly unfortunate that the personal appearance of
Columbus has been so variously described by the old historians that it is
impossible to speak with certainty on the subject. Strangely enough, too,
no well-authenticated portrait of the great discoverer exists. Ferdinand
Columbus, who would be a good authority, fails to give us, in describing
his father, any of those little touches which make up a good literary
photograph. We learn, however, that he had a commanding presence, that he
was above the middle height, with a long countenance, rather full cheeks,
an aquiline nose, and light grey eyes full of expression. His hair was
naturally light in colour, but, as has been already stated, it turned
nearly white while he was still a young man.

The peculiar characteristics of his mind are such as we might naturally
expect to find in the originator of such a work as the discovery of
America,--who was, indeed, one of the great spirits of the earth; but
still of the same order of soul to which great inventors and discoverers
have mostly belonged. Lower down, too, in mankind, there is much of the
same nature leading to various kinds of worthy deeds, though there are no
more continents for it to discover.

But to return to the renowned personage of whom we are speaking. There was
great simplicity about him, and much loyalty and veneration. The truly
great are apt to believe in the greatness of others, and so to be loyal in
their relations here; while, for what is beyond here, a large measure of
veneration belongs to them, as having a finer and more habitually present
consciousness than most men of something infinitely above what even their
imaginations can compass. He was as magnanimous as it was possible,
perhaps, for so sensitive and impassioned a person to be. He was humane,
self-denying, courteous. He had an intellect of that largely inquiring
kind which may remind us of our great English philosopher, Bacon. He was
singularly resolute and enduring. The Spaniards have a word, longanimidad,
which has been well applied in describing him, as it signifies greatness
and constancy of mind in adversity. He was rapt in his desig