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CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
Christopher Columbus discovered America on the 12th of October, 1492. He had spent eighteen years in planning for that wonderful voyage which he made across the Atlantic Ocean. He had talked and argued with sailors and scholars and princes and kings. "By sailing west across the great ocean," he would say, "I am sure I can reach lands that have never been visited by Europeans." But he had been laughed at as a foolish dreamer, and few people had any faith in him. Finally the Spanish king and queen, who were interested in finding a sea route to India, offered him ships and men so that he could carry out his plan. He crossed the ocean and discovered strange lands, inhabited by a people unknown to Europeans. He believed these lands to be part of India.
Early in 1493 Columbus returned to Spain. There was great rejoicing in the country, and he was hailed as the hero who had made an epoch-making discovery. Crowds of people lined the streets to do him honour, and the king and queen welcomed him to their palace. Never had such great respect been shown to any common man.
But there were people who were jealous of the discoverer. "Who is this Columbus?" they asked. "What has he done? Is he not an ordinary seaman from Italy? And could not any other person sail across the ocean as he has done?"
One day Columbus was at a dinner given in his honour. At the party were several of these conceited fellows, who very soon tried to make him uncomfortable.
"You have discovered strange lands beyond the sea," they began. "But what of that? We do not see why there should be so much fuss about it. Anybody can sail across the ocean, and anybody can coast along the islands on the other side, just as you have done. It is the simplest thing in the world."
Columbus made no answer; but after a while he took an egg from a dish and said to the guests, "Who among you, gentlemen, can make this egg stand on end?"
One guest after another tried the experiment. When the egg had gone the rounds and none had succeeded, all said that it could not be done.
Then Columbus took the egg and struck its small end gently upon the table so as to break the shell a little. After that there was no trouble in making it stand upright.
"Gentlemen," said he, "what could be easier than this? And yet you said it was impossible! It is the simplest thing in the world. Anybody can do it — after he has been shown how."
