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ody well proportioned。 His hair was decidedly reddish； and the complexion of his face quite florid and marked with spots of red。〃
Bishop Las Casas knew the admiral personally； and describes him in these terms： 〃He was above the middle stature； his face was long and striking； his nose was aquiline； his eyes clear blue； his complexion light； tending towards a distinct florid expression； his beard and hair blonde in his youth； but they were blanched at an early age by care。
Las Casas says in another place； he was rude in bearing； and careless as to his language。 He was； however； gracious when he chose to be； but he was angry when he was annoyed。〃
Mr。 Harrisse； who has collected these particulars from the different writers； says that this physical type may be frequently met now in the city and neighborhood of Genoa。 He adds； 〃as for the portraits； whether painted； engraved； or in sculpture； which appear in collections； in private places； or as prints； there is not one which is authentic。 They are all purely imaginary。〃
For the purpose of the illustration of this volume； we have used that which is best known； and for many reasons most interesting。 It is preserved in the city of Florence； but neither the name of the artist nor the date of the picture is known。 It is generally spoken of as the 〃Florentine portrait。〃 The engraving follows an excellent copy； made by the order of Thomas Jefferson； and now in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society。 We are indebted to the government of this society for permission to use it。＇*＇
＇*＇ The whole subject of the portraits of Columbus is carefully discussed in a learned paper presented to the Wisconsin Historical Society by Dr。 James Davie Butler； and published in the Collections of that Society； Vol。 IX； pp。 79…96。
A picture ascribed to Titian； and engraved and circulated by the geographer； Jomard； resembles closely the portraits of Philip III。 The costume is one which Columbus never wore。
In his youth Columbus was affiliated with a religious brotherhood； that of Saint Catherine； in Genoa。 In after times； on many occasions when it would have been supposed that he would be richly clothed； he appeared in a grave dress which recalled the recollections of the frock of the religious order of Saint Francis。 According to Diego Columbus； he died； 〃dressed in the frock of this order； to which he had always been attached。〃
The reader who has carefully followed the fortunes of the great discoverer understands from the history the character of the man。 He would not have succeeded in his long suit at the court of Ferdinand and Isabella； had he not been a person of single purpose and iron will。
From the moment when he was in command of the first expedition； that expedition went prosperously to its great success； in precisely the way which he had foreseen and determined。 True； he did not discover Asia； as he had hoped； but this was because America was in the way。 He showed in that voyage all the attributes of a great discoverer； he deserved the honors which were paid to him on his return。
As has been said； however； this does not mean that he was a great organizer of cities； or that he was the right person to put in charge of a newly founded colony。 It has happened more than once in the history of nations that a great general； who can conquer armies and can obtain peace； has not succeeded in establishing a colony or in governing a city。
On the other hand； it is fair to say that Columbus never had a chance to show what he would have been in the direction of his colonies had they been really left in his charge。 This is true； that his heart was always on discovery； all the time that he spent in the wretched detail of the arrangement of a new…built town was time which really seemed to him wasted。
The great problem was always before him； how he should connect his discoveries with the knowledge which Europe had before of the coast of Asia。 Always it seemed to him that the dominions of the Great Khan were within his reach。 Always he was eager for that happy moment when he should find himself in personal communication with that great monarch； who had been so long the monarch of the Eastwho； as he thought； would prove to be the monarch of the West。
Columbus died with the idea that he had come close to Asia。 Even a generation after his death； the companions of Cortes gave to the peninsula of California that name because it was the name given in romance to the farthest island of the eastern Indies。
Columbus met with many reverses； and died； one might almost say； a broken…hearted man。 But history has been just to him； and has placed him in the foremost rank of the men who have set the world forward。 And； outside of the technical study of history； those who like to trace the laws on which human progress advances have been proud and glad to see that here is a noble example of the triumph of faith。
The life of Columbus is an illustration constantly brought forward of the success which God gives to those who； having conceived of a great idea； bravely determine to carry it through。
His singleness of purpose； his unselfishness； his determination to succeed； have been cited for four centuries； and will be cited for centuries more； among the noblest illustrations which history has given； of success wrought out by the courage of one man。
APPENDIX A。
＇The following passages； from Admiral Fox's report； give his reasons for believing that Samana； or Atwood's Key； is the island where Columbus first touched land。 The interest which attaches to this subject at the moment of the centennial； when many voyages will be made by persons following Columbus； induces me to copy Admiral Fox's reasonings in detail。 I believe his conclusion to be correct。＇
This method of applying Columbus's words in detail to refute each of the alleged tracks； and the study that I gave to the subject in the winter of 1878…79 in the Bahamas； which has been familiar cruising ground to me； has resulted in the selection of Samana or Atwood's Key for the first landing place。
It is a little island 8。8 miles east and west； 1。6 extreme breadth； and averaging 1。2 north and south。 It has 8。6 square miles。 The east end is in latitude 23 degrees 5' N。； longitude 73 degrees 37' west of Greenwich。 The reef on which it lies is 15 by 2 1/2 miles。
On the southeast this reef stretches half a mile from the land； on the east four miles； on the west two； along the north shore one…quarter to one…half mile； and on the southwest scarcely one…quarter。 Turk is smaller than Samana； and Cat very much larger。
The selection of two so unlike in size show that dimension has not been considered essential in choosing an island for the first landfall。＇*＇
＇*＇ I am indebted to T。 J。 McLain； Esq。； United States consul at Nassau； for the following information given to him by the captains of this port； who visit Samana or Atwood's Key。 The sub…sketch on this chart is substantially correct： Good water is only obtained by sinking wells。 The two keys to the east are covered with guano； white boobies hold the larger one； and black boobies the other； neither intermingles。
The island is now uninhabited； but arrow heads an