Famous Discoverers and Explorers of America: Their Voyages, Battles, and Hardships in Traversing and Conquering the Unknown Territories of a New WorldJohnston, Charles H. L. (Charles Haven Ladd)
History
Famous Discoverers and Explorers of America: Their Voyages, Battles, and Hardships in Traversing and Conquering the Unknown Territories of a New World
Johnston, Charles H. L. (Charles Haven Ladd)
America -- Discovery and exploration; Explorers
THE history of these adventurous men shows that the human mind, ever
curious and ever anxious to discover new and unknown facts, will
stimulate the endeavors of staunch physical beings to do feats of
daring and energy which those of more contented and passive mentality
will never feel either willing or able to accomplish.
Leif Ericson, Hudson, Pizarro, Peary, all were propelled onward upon
their missions of discovery and of adventure by that curious spark of
daring and love of adventure which has stimulated a Roosevelt and a
Dillon Wallace.
It is the mind that drives onward the body; it is the bump of curiosity
which propels the adventurer to take the risks and the hazards which
are necessary for exploration of unmapped countries.
Restless, dare-devilish souls will always exist, and, now that there
are no parts of the North American continent which are unknown to the
geographer and the man of scientific bent, those who are prompted
onward by the spirit of hazardous adventure must search for the
unknown in the unmapped and untouched regions of Africa or of South
America. Here vast wildernesses call to those of adventurous blood
to come and to admire; to struggle with the elements and to battle
with the currents of their water-courses and the unmarked trails of
their mountains. But no treasure of the Montezumas, nor gold of the
Incas, lie where the restless grasp of the invader can reach out and
appropriate as in the days of the dauntless Cortés and the avaricious
Pizarro.
So, live on! O Spirit of Adventure, without which there would be no
sparkle to life, no zest to the journey into the wilderness, no tang to
the canoe trip through the unknown chain of lakes, or the beaver-dammed
water course. Live on! and may you ever exist in the minds of young
America, so that, when the great call shall go up for those of Viking
soul and De Soto daring to rise and press onward for the honor of the
flag, there will be thousands of adventurers who have been trained to
the hazard of the camp, the slap of the paddle, and the gleam of the
rifle-barrel.
They, like the intrepid Peary, will “nail the good, old flag” to
the very ends of the earth, for it represents “liberty, equality,
fraternity”—three glorious qualities for the maintenance of which
every true-minded boy, when he grows to be a man, will be willing to
give his time, his energy, and, if necessary—his life.
THE END.
INDEX
Albuquerque, 188-189
Almagro, Diego, 220-221, 223-229, 246-247
Almedo, Father, 129-130, 158, 170
Alvarado, Lieutenant, 159-161, 170, 177
Alvarado, Moscoso de, 269
Anastase, Father, 403-404
Antonio, Father, 70-71, 75, 78-81
Astrup, Mr., 414
Atamara, 63-65, 68
Balboa, Vasco Nuñez de, 87-105, 195, 219-220
Barentz, William, 311
Bartola, Sergeant, 79
Bayard, Chevalier, 174, 294
Berardi, 47
Bonaparte, Napoleon, 228
Bjarni, son of Herjulf, 6-9
Bradley, John R., 416
Bridgman, Herbert L., 412
Cacama, 144, 155-156, 170
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account