COLUMBUS IS CALLED TO MEET THE KING AND QUEEN-HIS MAGNIFICENT RECEPTION--NEGOTIATIONS WITH THEPOPE AND WITH THE KING OF PORTUGAL--SECONDEXPEDITION ORDERED--FONSECA--THE PREPARATIONS ATCADIZ.

　　The letter which Columbus sent from Lisbon to the king and queenwas everywhere published. It excited the enthusiasm first of Spain andthen of the world. This letter found in the earlier editions is now one of themost choice curiosities of libraries. Well it may be, for it is the first publicannouncement of the greatest event of modern history.

　　Ferdinand and Isabella directed him to wait upon them at once at court.

　　It happened that they were then residing at Barcelona, on the eastern coastof Spain, so that the journey required to fulfill their wishes carried himquite across the kingdom. It was a journey of triumph. The people cametogether in throngs to meet this peaceful conqueror who brought with himsuch amazing illustrations of his discovery.

　　The letter bearing instructions for him to proceed to Barcelona wasaddressed "To Don Christopher Columbus, our Admiral of the Ocean Sea,Viceroy and Governor of the islands discovered in the Indies." So far washe now raised above the rank of a poor adventurer, who had for sevenyears attended the court in its movements, seeking an opportunity toexplain his proposals.

　　As he approached Barcelona he was met by a large company of people,including many persons of rank. A little procession was formed of theparty of the Admiral. Six Indians of the islands who had survived thevoyage, led the way. They were painted according to their custom invarious colors, and ornamented with the fatal gold of their countries,which had given to the discovery such interest in the eyes of those wholooked on.

　　Columbus had brought ten Indians away with him, but one had died onthe voyage and he had left three sick at Palos. Those whom he brought toBarcelona, were baptized in presence of the king and queen.

　　After the Indians, were brought many curious objects which had comefrom the islands, such as stuffed birds and beasts and living paroquets,which perhaps spoke in the language of their own country, and rare plants,so different from those of Spain. Ornaments of gold were displayed, whichwould give the people some idea of the wealth of the islands. Last of allcame Columbus, elegantly mounted and surrounded by a brilliantcavalcade of young Spaniards. The crowd of wondering people pressedaround them. Balconies and windows were crowded with women lookingon. Even the roofs were crowded with spectators.

　　The king and queen awaited Columbus in a large hall, where they wereseated on a rich dais covered with gold brocade. It was in the palaceknown as the "Casa de la Deputacion" which the kings of Aragon madetheir residence when they were in Barcelona. A body of the mostdistinguished lords and ladies of Spain were in attendance. As Columbusentered the hall the king and queen arose. He fell on his knee that he mightkiss their hands but they bade him rise and then sit and give an account ofhis voyage.

　　Columbus spoke with dignity and simplicity which commandedrespect, while all listened with sympathy. He showed some of the treasureshe had brought, and spoke with certainty of the discoveries which hadbeen made, as only precursors of those yet to come. When his shortnarrative was ended, all the company knelt and united in chanting the "TeDeum," "We Praise Thee, O God." Las Casas, describing the joy and hopeof that occasion says, "it seems as if they had a foretaste of the joys ofparadise."It would seem as if those whose duty it is to prepare fit celebrations ofthe periods of the great discovery, could hardly do better than to produceon the twenty-fourth of April, 1893, a reproduction of the solemn pageantin which, in Barcelona, four centuries before, the Spanish courtcommemorated the great discovery.

　　From this time, for several weeks, a series of pageants and festivitiessurrounded him. At no other period of his life were such honors paid tohim. It was at one of the banquets, at which he was present, that theincident 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 athome when great deeds are done, and afterwards depreciate the doers ofthem--had the impertinence to ask Columbus, if the adventure so muchpraised was not, after all, a very simple matter. He probably said "a shortvoyage of four or five weeks; was it anything more?" Columbus replied bygiving him an egg which was on the table, and asking him if he couldstand it on one end. He said he could not, and the other guests said thatthey could not. Columbus tapped it on the table so as to break the end ofthe shell, and the egg stood erect. "It is easy enough," he said, "when anyone has shown you how."It is well to remember, that if after years showed that the ruler of Spainwearied in his gratitude, Columbus was, at the time, welcomed with theenthusiasm which he deserved. From the very grains of gold brought homein this first triumph, the queen, Isabella, had the golden illuminationwrought of a most beautiful missal-book.

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

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

　　The time was not occupied merely in shows and banquets. There wasno difficulty now, about funds for a second expedition. Directions weregiven that it might be set forward as quickly as possible, and on animposing scale. For it was feared at court that King John of Portugal, th............