Look at Christopher Columbus. Consider the disheartening difficulties and vexatious delays he had to encounter; the doubts of the skeptical, the sneers of the learned, the cavils of the cautious, and the opposition, or at least the indifference, of nearly all. And then the dangers of an untried, unexplored ocean. Is it by any means probable he would have persevered had he not possessed that earnest enthusiasm which was characteristic of the great discoverer? What mind can conceive or tongue can tell the great results which have followed, and will continue to follow in all coming time, from what this single individual accomplished? A new continent has been discovered; nations planted whose wealth and power already begin to eclipse those of the Old World, and whose empires stretch far away beneath the setting sun. Institutions of learning, liberty, and religion have been established on the broad basis of equal rights to all. It is true, America might have been discovered by what we call some fortunate accident. But, in all probability, it would have remained unknown for centuries, had not some _earnest man_, like Columbus, arisen, whose adventurous spirit would be roused, rather than repressed, by difficulty and danger. EACH THE COLUMBUS OF HIS OWN SOUL. (ANONYMOUS.) Every man has within himself a continent of undiscovered character. Happy is he who acts the Columbus to his own soul. A SUPERIOR SOUL. (CLADERA. SPANISH.) His soul was superior to the age in which he lived. For him was reserved the great enterprise of traversing that sea which had given rise to so many fables, and of deciphering the mystery of his time. COLUMBUS DARED THE MAIN. SAMUEL ROGERS. (See _post_, page 275.) When first Columbus dared the Western main, Spanned the broad gulf, and gave a world to Spain, How thrilled his soul with tumult of delight, When through the silence of the sleepless night Burst shouts of triumph. THE WORLD A SEAMAN'S HAND CONFERRED. J.R. LOWELL. (See _post_, page 204.) Joy, joy for Spain! a seaman's hand confers These glorious gifts, for a new world is hers. But where is he, that light whose radiance glows, The loadstone of succeeding mariners? Behold him crushed beneath o'ermastering woes-- Hopeless, heart-broken, chained, abandoned to his foes. THE RIDICULE WITH WHICH THE VIEWS OF COLUMBUS WERE RECEIVED. JOHN J. ANDERSON, American historical writer. Born in New York, 1821. From his "History of the United States" (1887).