“No, of course there isn’t,” said the tutor. “We can only take an interest in them as showing the beginning of events that have resulted so wonderfully. It is also true that now and then we find a sentence throwing light upon how men did things in old times. But it is rather as a matter of curiosity than of learning that these relics are studied.”
Upon the west wall was a very large painting showing the “Landing.” It represented Columbus, just after he had stepped ashore, raising his eyes upward in thanksgiving for his success. The men in the boat seemed to show curiosity and enjoyment rather than piety. The painting was not remarkable except that the expression upon the discoverer’s face was well rendered.
At the left of the picture the original anchor of the wrecked “Santa Maria” leaned against the wall. Both flukes were gone. Mr. Douglass felt a little doubtful of the genuineness of this relic, but was willing to be convinced. There seemed to be no proof that the anchor belonged to the old caravel; but, on the other hand, it was found where her anchor might have been, and it was pleasant to believe that it might be the very piece of iron upon which the hand of the discoverer had often rested.
CELL OF THE PRIOR MARCHENA IN THE ORIGINAL CONVENT,—THE “COLUMBUS ROOM” IN THE MODEL AT THE FAIR.
Mr. Douglass asked a young man who was selling catalogues whether he hadn’t one telling just what letters and papers were in the building; but, to the tutor’s disappointment, the catalogues of the old manuscripts were all sold. There were a number of old paintings around the walls, but after examining a few, Mr. Douglass advised Harry not to waste much time over them, as their connection with Columbus was rather remote.
Going up the narrow stairway, they came out upon a corridor that looked upon the open court through graceful arches; and from this corridor opened small square rooms—originally the monks’ cells. The doors were as plain as possible, and each had a latch lifted by a string coming out through a hole in the door; the windows were small and square, embrasured, or sunk, into the thick walls.
HOUSE IN GENOA SAID
TO BE THE BIRTHPLACE
OF COLUMBUS.
Various relics were hung at every point, either along the corridor or in the cells. Many of them were queer drawings or paintings, meant to show the manners and customs of the Indians; others were charts and maps, some earlier than Columbus and others later.