The Life of Christopher Columbus from his own Letters and Journals | Page 3

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[This was orginally done on the 400th Anniversary of 1492] [As was
the great Columbian Exposition in Chicago] [Interesting how our
heroes have all be de-canizied in the of Political Correctitude]
Comments by Michael S. Hart

THE LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
FROM HIS OWN LETTERS AND JOURNALS
--AND --
OTHER DOCUMENTS OF HIS TIME.

by EDWARD EVERETT HALE,

PREFACE.
This book contains a life of Columbus, written with the hope of
interesting all classes of readers.
His life has often been written, and it has sometimes been well written.
The great book of our countryman, Washington Irving, is a noble
model of diligent work given to a very difficult subject. And I think
every person who has dealt with the life of Columbus since Irving's
time, has expressed his gratitude and respect for the author.
According to the custom of biographers, in that time and since, he
includes in those volumes the whole history of the West India islands,
for the period after Columbus discovered them till his death. He also
thinks it his duty to include much of the history of Spain and of the
Spanish court. I do not myself believe that it is wise to attempt, in a
book of biography, so considerable a study of the history of the time.
Whether it be wise or not, I have not attempted it in this book. I have
rather attempted to follow closely the personal fortunes of Christopher
Columbus, and, to the history around him, I have given only such space
as seemed absolutely necessary for the illustration of those fortunes.
I have followed on the lines of his own personal narrative wherever we
have it. And where this is lost I have used the absolutely contemporary

authorities. I have also consulted the later writers, those of the next
generation and the generation which followed it. But the more one
studies the life of Columbus the more one feels sure that, after the
greatness of his discovery was really known, the accounts of the time
were overlaid by what modern criticism calls myths, which had grown
up in the enthusiasm of those who honored him, and which form no
part of real history. If then the reader fails to find some stories with
which he is quite familiar in the history, he must not suppose that they
are omitted by accident, but must give to the author of the book the
credit of having used some discretion in the choice of his authorities.
When I visited Spain in 1882, I was favored by the officers of the
Spanish government with every facility for carrying my inquiry as far
as a short visit would permit. Since that time Mr. Harrisse has
published his invaluable volumes on the life of Columbus. It certainly
seems as if every document now existing, which bears upon the history,
had been collated by him. The reader will see that I have made full use
of this treasure-house.
The Congress of Americanistas, which meets every year, brings
forward many curious studies on the history of the continent, but it can
scarcely be said to have done much to advance our knowledge of the
personal life of Columbus.
The determination of the people of the United States to celebrate fitly
the great discovery which has advanced civilization and changed the
face of the world, makes it certain that a new interest has arisen in the
life of the great man to whom, in the providence of God, that discovery
was due. The author and publishers of this book offer it as their
contribution in the great celebration, with the hope that it may be of use,
especially in