The San Francisco Sunday Call.
SECOND DISCOVERY OF AMERICA
AT SANTA CRUZ TO-DAY
Will Scarlet
ClaeoTwd America on
g €ht lltb of October. 14S1. Every
\^ body know* that, Er«a ths fifth
rrtit schoolboy, who cannot
?oe*ca*Mr be «xp*ct«d lo b* corw*.
ef anything, U unshaken tn hit con
\u25bctea on that what U in soms respects
the blggmrt fact fn htrterr happened
tm that day and dat*, Hs may think
tiuLt Pooahontas* father was called
l»ow-w©wi he may think that John
fcrith'* eass* wu Tom Pains t hs may
think that Martha Washington said,
TThy don't you speak for yourself,
John?" and that Miles Etandlsh signed
the Declaration of Independence. But
he cak«i no mistake about Columbus.
2<?l Is a red letter date In American
fclstory—"th«~ red letter date, la faci
als the tmall boy Just cant ret It
trrong. Columbus— America — 1t92. The
trcrds and figures are blazoned on his
brain and blazoned there to stay.
And after today there trill be an
other date that trill likewise be
blazoned — and to stay— on the small
boy's bra!n. This date Is the 13th of
October. 1907. It Trill stick by reason
of the law of association of Ideas. The
small boy and you and I may try to
forget It In the course of years, but we
simply can't forget. We shall never
forg^: 1492 and neither shall tre forget
1507.
Cn the 12th of October, 1492, America
vis discovered for the first time.. On
the 13th of October, 1907, America Is
being discovered for the second time.
At this very moment, perchance, while .
this page Is squirming beneath your
Sunday morning scrutiny. Columbus
the Second — the twentieth century
Columbus — la standing on the deck of
the twentieth century Santa Maria and
peering intently at the western conti
nent. His Bailors, who, let us hope,
\u25a0will not follow an unworthy precedent
and prove mutinous, are picturesquely
grouped on the deck and presently will
shout, "Landl L<andT — not in Spanish,
Portuguese or Italian, but In plain
United States.
In some respects the twentieth cen
tury Columbus Is having an easier time
of It than bad the fifteenth century
Columbus. To begin with, he hasn't
had cuch a long voyage. Columbus the
first sailed direct from the Azores; Co
lumbus the second Is sailing from long
\u25a0wharf, Santa Cruz, at 8 o'clock this
snorrlng. "Wind and tide being favor
able be ought to discover America
fcbout 10. And then, too, the twentieth
century Columbus Is not sailing west.
At the present moment he Is sailing
..a-.st. But that makes no difference — he
x?:il discover America Just the same.
The real name of Columbus the sec
ond is not Columbus at all. It is James
J). Talt, and when he Is not discover
ing America he Is advocate of the Santa
Cruz council of the Knights of Colum
bus. His faithful sailoYs. despite the
picturesque costumes they ar«s wearing,
are members of tho Santa Cruz division
of the naval militia, and they havd
been shipped on this voyage of dis
covery by favor of Lieutenant Com
mander A. A. Morcy. Those dark hued,
awe Inspiring Indians grouped on the
chore In front of the Hotel del Mar
are on ordinary occasions peaceful and
well ordered citizens of Santa Cruz,
and good Christians, too., for they are
in reality members of Santa Cruz coun
cil of the Knights of Columbus.
If you chance to bo reading this on
a southbound train this morning, get
off at Santa Cruz and see the discov
ery, of America for yourself. If. how
ever, you are una Die to see Columbus
the second In the flesh, come with mo
knd see, in the mind's eye, the twenti
eth century discovery of ', America.
• L«ct us get a convenient place on
tl ? e Ml each — not too near the Indians,
of course — and await further*develop
ments. It is within a few minutes
of 10 o'clock. The air Is warm-falmost
too warm for loyal San Franciscans—
nnd rich with the perfume of the great
Pacific. The crowds round about y us
are all looking eagerly out to ••*\u25a0 "^
conversation Is hushed and the atmos
phere Is charged with expectancy. -'
The New Columbus
"A sail! A sail!" Eight thousand,
arms point excitedly and 8,000 pairs of
flashing eyes look sharply seaward.
Yes, there is the, sail. Rather closer
than we \u25a0-, expected,. Is an' antique
sloop, with bulky prow and elevated
after deck. It is the Santa Maria. The
consort ships, the Nina and the Plnta,
have not yet hove in sight, but we can
well get along without them. In cornea
the Santa Maria, gayly decked with
banners and pennants. Proudly and •
fearlessly Columbus stands on the lofty
prow. The sailors along the massive
bulkheads lift their voices In song, and
wetm shore Join In the refrain. A boat
Is lowered. Columbus and his band of
chosen followers take their places and.
the water splashes merrily as the oars
dip in unison. The boat is safely
beached and Columbus steps solemnly
upon the land. He carries, not the flag
of Spain, but a flag the sight 1 of which
makes our heart throb Joyously and
brings cheer after cheer from our will-
Ing throat 3. It Is our own star-spangled
banner.
Solemnly the banner Is. raised;.^sol
emnly Is the cross lifted on highland,
we all reverently fall on our knees.
JCow comes a long, happy paus<v after
which we spring eagerly to our feet,
for over yonder th« League of tho.
Cross band and the musicians from the
Presidio of Monterey have sent the first
chords of the national anthem, "The
Star-Spangled Banner," Coating out
over the crowded beach and the shim
mering sea. The second discovery of
America is an accomplished fact.
A procession is forming and we, must
hasten to secure good places., Up the
beach wo go, with Columbus at the
head, till we reach the Hotel' del Mar,
where we assist at a low : mass cele
brated by Father Fortier, pastor of
Capitola and Del Mar. The sermon Is
preached by the Rev. Joseph P. Mo-
Quaide, rector of, Sacred Heart church,
San Francisco.
The services over, we go to dinner.
Plenty of friends in Santa Cruz will b«
glad to take us home, but the menu of
the Hotel del Mar is} altogether too
tempting to resist. IC fortune' favor*
us we may dine at the same table with
Columbus, who perhaps will contribute
a little local color to, the occasion by
showing us how to make an egg stand"
on end.
On the Board Walk
• At 2 this* afternoon the promenad*
on the board walk will begin. Ha**
you ever seen the board walk at' Santa
Cruz? If you have . not,' no word*' caa \
describe the treat In store for you, * On
this'occasion it; will be an endless pro*
cession of well groomed men wd styl
ishly \u25a0 attired women, all on pleasure
bent. The* soft breeze that' blows ta
from the ocean 'during the' afternoon
will fan the color into flowing
cheeks and" blow: m'lady*s ' bW
'.: wltehlnKly ; about her eyes . and blame*
deep In every mind and heart the price
less memory of Discovery day. ' ; .,
For be it knovrn that today is Dis
covery day. It is a sacred day to the
Knights iof Columbus. Every one ln>
San Francisco has heard of this organ
ization that, introduced here some five
years ago, has waxed strong through
out California. Think of the number
of : your friends who wear the Knights
of Columbus badge on their coat lapels
and be convinced.' The celebration of
Discovery day. thlsyear is in the hands
of the Santa Cruz council, - and spleii-*;..
dldly have they acquitted themselves";
of the : duties and responsibilities/ en
tailed. Thomas W. Kelly, a well .
known Santa Cruz- business man, is
chairman of the' committee of arrange
ments.' In addition to his office of trus
tee of the Knights of Columbus, "Mr.
Kelly is president of the Santa ; Cruz \
board of. trade. This organization has
taken a prominent part^ln preparing^
for Discovery^ day, with the result that
the visiting knights and ladles -will be
well provided for. Among the Knights
of Columbus of Santa Cruz council who
have done much to insure the success
of the celebration are Grand Kjilght
W. '.. W. Smith, Financial Secretary 'W,
A. Horton and Lecturer J. J. Doran.
men' are all Santa Cruzans and
have determined -.to -, do; Jthemselver
proudln the Interests/of the city. :
v What celebration }s complete with
out the ladles? You can say what you
please of stag suppers, but stag sup
pers are not as popular as . your' enco- ;
miums \ would appear to ; warrant. 5 There
are not gointf-to be any stag celebra
tlons in ; Santa * Cruz today. Mrs.
, Thomas and i the"; grand offlcers ' of the .
Catholic ladles'/ aid society at Del Mar
have been- attending , to the, detail*' of
decoration and are going/ to make the
dinner, at the hotel "the more enjoyable
for. their presence;- Miss Annie Rooney,
the popular San Francisco vocalist, has
also gladlyV \ ; olunteered \u0084 her \ •ervlces
and the choir that will sing at t th»
mass wilt be' under her. supervision.
The Knights: of Columbus'i f rom . San =
Franclsco'lefthere yesterday afternoon
on a special. - The Santa Crus^ reception
committee took the* visitors In charge
at the station and all repaired, to the
new 'casino for luncheon. .In the even
ing an entertainment and ball was held*
in the Casino. Among ; the" prominent
persons present'at this function were
Lleutenant-Governor ; Warren R. Porter ;
\ and Mayor S. A. Palmer of Santa -Crux.
State Deputy Theodore Savage has his
headquarters at the Sea Beach hotel.
When the special train pulls Into San
Francisco* tonight ; It will ; carry some
6,000 ; men and women who have ' been
present atone ofthe red letter events
of history, who have participated In the
(JSswrery ;- : of \u25a0 America. *; Th«y .win Vbia» H
>with them the memory of Oohttttb^irtli*}:
? JBecond-;s.nd|thftt'; msmory.; wW ;OoiWOlsy
an Increasing admiration of = Columbus
:'the; Plrs^ThsishlpJbf ; oriiaasT" tonight :;-;
'will ;~ bearVthe Jtolrts/V:; :
; wirlt ' large " and \u25a0; clear on \ ltm\ bold J prow ; : i
{ andlthel inspiringl strain (of ifptuti Star; i
Bpangledj ßanner"* will-lull^ the happr, j
knights \u25a0 to • rest, - - - ,
; This " uniqua \u25a0 ceiebratiott ; of piscoveryj;
folM^ctJliradwaabJi^o^^thM,
McQuaida, the. orator of th« Gay, wtaa
seen recently 'at th« handsom* mm
rectory '{ of t Sacred : Heart '{ eaufoh. • \u25a0 mßmm ßm .
did his work nArnlflc^ntly aa4 ta« ftaqr
is all his own. Otbara, VOf Qoma Sm»
' bella and the gr—t OfcrdJoi lftwiilM^, \u25a0
aided \ him , Tery j ma*«rt»ll* b^OWIMH .
bus', himself '\u25a0 wm th« hM4 aad ft<a4 «fc
the great und«rtaidn^ :^|Js|J^|pj||j
(AonbtMSnl tbm »w« bsoaos* his mp
tttm .m; so pura, so •lsraud. so noble.
*h« \ irrsat V tmpsUins fore* , that r drove
tbs Ilttls SanU (LarU across th« west
i sr»|^ian^was;:. ths JfsrTent;; (Cathollo
faith -of her commander. This \u25a0is one
of th» riil^vmyi^'om!w^9tT'^'nvßa»d :
iftsr i Columbus, sjod AWhy - v ws\ ars /all :
proud' and \ happy to do all that we : can
to make an unparalleled success of our
calibration • of •\u25a0 Discbrery day.'V \u0084.-.• \u25a0:\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0:
•1 <havs;,no - haiitation in % saying."
an«thtr promlns^t Slight of Columbus'
wliol^io n^tth%^epx>us^pTColumbus?
i^M «^M BS BM •• OtS- WSftßdL h* «| I
ft steffvlsrtr *»*4 naa, ' Ton : know': tt :
Im «nlt* pmObim that th» CaOello \u25a0
ottorah may «*«ataaUy oan«nls« ths
(Itsusrsisi if Am— fa not nso— sartly
\ bseaMs ' tint ho' w«s) • th« dlscowror vof '
jllUQflns; btit : hieum he was through
all bis ttf • \u25a0 a model Catholic. '• But
•p«aklag itot 'as a Catholic, but as an
Amarloan, ' I . r «a feonvineed th at the
' memory of Columbus cannot be held in "
;'toiot ; groat '.rsv«ranca.:J:. "Whenever _ ys
speak eif him ws" might well say .what
Antony said to Brutus, '"This was a
Another /National Holiday
< "One r pet project the^ Knights of Co
lumbus- have at : heart. ' It "> is"< their de
sire * to \ have the;. 12th' of ; October set
aside . as a national holiday. And. ' real-,
ly.nWhen we consider what the 12th of
Octdber;>l432, l i meant for the • future of
the'.;' American;-: continent 'we can see
nothing unreasonable in the wlshi" Dis
covery''day^should Itake; its ': place with
the'4th]of July. andlWashingtbn's birth
day Iniour'national calendar. -^ .'..•'
VfA^dl^lSjproject.^:makinc.the ; 12th
of fa /national; holiday.- is more
than ' a . mere ; matter.;^of sentiment. , It
Vouid';serY^ ! ai*.'a' r iln]c : ibin'dla^:ioxeUi«>
tOl the peoples of the western con
tinent. It would be, not a national holi
day merely, but a continental holiday.
If It were to have no other sriod *ff»ot*
It might In - part allay the pronenes* of
our South American neighbors to civil
strife. It would be a step forward la
putting the Monroe doctrine Into Intel
ligent practice.
But the greatest argument that can
be adduced in favor of establishing the
11th of' October as a national holiday
Is .the simplest argument of all. Th«
memory of Columbus deserves It. Few
other men suffered as he did In the per
formance of hia heroic task. The gall-
Ing chains wherewith he was loaded
have left a mark that tho gayest gar
lands we tardily proffer can never al
together hide. " In his life he suffered
the penalty of greatnes3. "To be great,"
\u25a0ays Emerson, "is to be misunderstood."
Sur«ly, It Is about time that we
Should ' begin to understand Columbus.
It tft no exaggeration* to say that. we
«rwm our western civilization to him.
iometiraes the remark is flippantly
mads, ."If Columbus hadn't discovered
America . somebody else would." The
absurdity of the statement is its moat
decisive refutation. ' The fact of su
pr«m* ; Importance Is. not that Colum
bus discovered America, but that h»
showed ; the world that the discoverer
of America was in the truest sense a
man.
•W« recall no celebration of discovery
day that can compare with the second
discovery of -America conducted under
Jh« auspices of the Knights of Colurn
'•USV In 1892-— the fourth centenary of
th« ffriat event— the Catholics of Saa
FraaoUco held a celebration at St.
•Cary's cathedral. The school children
aUaad»d In a body; and a. very attrac
tt** ( 9TOoassloa marked the conclusion
«£ th* festivities. But this four hun
dfftd.a&d fifteenth anniversary of th»
djrSOOTery of . America Is . emphatically
|M greatest celebration yet. It is on a
finuxd Scale and there is nothing con
gaaaßSl about it. It Is a delljjht to
ty* and tar and a glorious gtimu
mst to the Imagination. It flings wid*
%M curtains that hang about tho door
fancy and gives a vista of the ages.
WitUata aiakepeac* Thackaray, .th«
JtefUtb riovelist. was a very candid
IBaa> lo particular he was very can*
614 with himself. The story goes that
softer he had written that superb pas-
Baa's la "Vanity Fair" wherein Rawdon
Crawley beats a certain lord within an
inch of the certain lord's life, Thacke
ray flung down his pen, sat back in his
chair, slapped . his "' knee and ex
claimed: "That 13 a stroke of genlusf*
And Thackeray was right.
,Who Is the originator, of this year's
celebration of. Discovery ; day? He cer
tainly must ; be " a' man worth knowing.
Let us hope -that" he •Is candiil—^and
candid \with, himself. If he 'is. what
do you suppose h© will do tonight? He
will; take a' solitary walk along,: the
board walk at Santa Cruz beside tha
phosphorescent sea. As he rambles on
and on ! he * will , recall bit by bl t th«
great ; events of \u25a0 th* day— events that
will : drive home the conviction that
there 13 no ' longer anything unlucky
about V the /number " 13. . He will se«
in 'fancy i the crowds on. the shore, the
Santa Maria f coming in serenely, over
the dancing sea. Columbus striding up
the 1 strand and planting: the "cross and
the banner iln<- the 30IL He will -hear
fence more the lusty voices of the men
and the sweet voices of the women
mingling with the strains of the bands
and will ; all unconsciously murmur ths
spirited ,refrain: j . *
'.' 'Tis the star/ spangled banner I On.
long may. it wave,
O'er the land* of the -free ? and ths
. \u25a0•-' - : home of : the ' brave!"-
And : thien. if ;that ,man la really sin
cere,, he ; v.'ill -pause there on 'the dim
beach and like Thackeray, slap his kn»«
and like Thackeray; exclaim: "That was
a". stroke of t'genlus!" ::
And,' like Tkackeray, ht will bs right.