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The winners of the essay con test sponsored by the Biddeford Council of the Knights of Colum bus were announced Friday. Essays were submitted by the four high schools in this city, St. Louis, Biddeford, St. Andres and St. Josephs. The first place award was given to Miss Lucille Blanchette of St. Andres high school with a total of 292 out of a possible 300 points. All three judges were unanimous in their selection. Second place honors also went to a St. Andres high school student when Miss Jean ette Dehette with a total of 286 won that award. Ruth Kennedy of Biddeford high school was third with a total of 278. First place award of $10 was given to Miss Blanchette. In the grammar school contest, first prize of $5 was awarded to Richard Stride. His score was 274. He attends Emery school, eighth grade B, Mrs. Ruby G. Gove, instructress. Honors went to Philip Cartier of Emery, eighth grade C, Mrs. Elizabeth McCain, instructress. All essays were well done and showed excellent train ing in this type of school work. The subject of the essay contest was “The Life of Christopher Columbus.” The chairman of the contest, Charles Murphy, presented the awards to the winners today at St. Andres high and Emery gram mar school and congratulated them with remarks appropriate for the occasion. The committee was exceptionally fortunate in securing the services of an excel lent committee of judges: Mrs. Susan N. Piper, a member of the board of education; Miss Helene Thivierge, prominent as an essay ist, and Mrs. Lillian T. Burnham, for many years a member of the high school faculty. Essay on Christopher Columbus, By LUCILLE BLANCHETTE. St. Andre's High School. “A Castilla y a nuevo mundo dio Colon.” “To Castille and Leon, Columbus gave a New World.” This is the inscription written on the monument erected in Columbus’ honor at Havana. This great maritime discoverer was born at Genoa, Italy, in 1446, of an artisan, but poor and honest family. He received his educa tion at the University of Pavia. At the youthful age of 14, Colum bus made his first sea voyage and was greatly attracted to maritime life. His family later moved to Lisbon, the chief commercial port of Europe at that time under the supervision of Prince Henry of Portugal. Several years later, Columbus married Felipa, daugh ter of Parestrello, distinguished navigator, who, after his death, left as inheritance to his son-in law, valuable charts and nautical instruments, which had a great influence upon the discovery which Columbus made. The lat ter want to discover a shorter route to the Indies, for the sake of converting the Pagans to Christianity, and also for materi al consequences, such as helping trade and commerce between Europe and the wealthy country of India. He then sought finan cial aid from John II of Portugal. The negative answer which he re ceived led him to turn to the Sovereigns of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella, who understood the religious and economic benefits which would result in the success of such an expedition. After two years of endless zeal, Columbus finally succeeded in obtaining three ships, the Santa Maria, the Nina and the Pinta, and a crew of 120 men, 90 of whom were of ficers. Then he set sail from Pa ris on the third day of August. After tribulations and trials of all sorts, he finally discovered on October 12, 1492, our country, our dear America, which he first named “San Salvador,” meaning “Holy Savior.” Columbus was a man of great courage and of unyielding zeal. His diligence and strength added to his noble character, won him the title of one of the greatest “Discoverers” that ever lived. His courage and excellent morals led him to resolute actions, which his visionary mind had per ceived to be advantageous. His commanding spirit saw him through obstacles which seem ed insurmountable. Columbus was also a benevolent as well as a skilled man. His unaffected candor, his digniied integrity, and his sterling morality shone to brighten the weak points in his character. He found a great suavity in domestic life, and he was affable with strangers. Re ligious as well as commercial motives led him to spread civil ization into a New World, which would not be an independent and peaceful land such as it is today, if this great discoverer had not laid its foundation on a solid basis. We can trace America’s history ism and materialism. This coun try was first colonized by Chris tian settlers who came from Eu rope. Poor, miserable individuals composed three-quarters of the population. Europe is a great country, but the surplus of its inhabitants sought peace and contentment on America’s bosom. Freedom of creed and of speech were theirs, privileges which were denied in Europe, social conflicts too made the United States a welcomed country for the ill-treated refugees of an old one. “Liberty is the sole word to summarize the history of our country.” “Let every man lead his own life” is the motto of America. What is America today due to the civilization engraved in its heart by Christopher Columbus? It is a land of wealth, consider able enough to be called luxury. The New World is a continent in which new fields of business enterprise and industrial activ ities are opened to all who wish to share its benefits. Both polit ical and religious beliefs are set by choice of the people. Means of earning an honest living are plenteous, for deficiency of labor is not a vital question in the country. Agricultural industries provide work for farmers. Manu factures, shops, offices, stores, railroad plants, etc., are branches of clerical and manual labor offered to its citizens. If arro gance and idleness exist in the country, it is caused by the own free will of the people, and not by the government, for the latter offers cultural advantages for everyone, through the establish ment of such organizations as the W. P. A., W. A. F. etc. Schools, colleges and other public institutions give rise to art, handicraft and science The civilization donated to America by Columbus, chiefly appears in the comparison that could, and can actually be made between the state of European affairs and the standing of our own country. After the seed of civilization had been planted, there grew a new democratic form of government. Social and economic institutions brought about better customs and manners. New experiments were made, which resulted by the success of all the latest in ventions that America possesses at the present time. Uniformity in modes to ameliorate the exist ing evils of life without the restrictions enforced in Eu rope, was obtained. It is true that this country during its 448 years of existence has had its moments of weakness, which were not to be praised. Piracy, slavery, etc, are examples of such weaknesses. Corruption and ruin which partly existed at times, due to the haughtiness and the crooked spirit of individuals, are defects of the national char acter. But America, with its no ble ideals, principles of civiliza tion, and democratic form of gov ernment, has mended these slight tears in the pages of her history and is now the model country on the globe The fact that Christopher Co lumbus was a great man is ascer tained in the establishment and civilization of this flourishing continent. Although the latter part of his days were spent in ill ness and _ seclusion from the world, although they were em bittered by envy, distraction, in justice, jealousy and_ cruelty, there died May 20, 1506, at Valla dolid, Spain, a genius who is worthy of the world’s love, praise and respect as a tribute of grati tude for the noble deeds he ac complished, and the services he rendered to humanity; a man never to be forgotten in history— Christopher Columbus. Christopher Columbus. By RICHARD STRIDE, Grammar School, Emery 8B. Columbus is a name known to more people than any other ex cept that of Christ. At first thought this may surprise the av erage person for here in America one might think that Washing ton and Lincoln were better known. But when we think of Europe, Asia and other continents we realize that while they may have heard vaguely of some of our famous American men, they all without exception know who Columbus was and what he did. Without doubt Christopher Co lumbus, who was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451, of humble parents, is the most widely known man in history since the time of Christ. It is said that as a boy he sat for hours at a time watching boats come and go. His youthful mind was puzzled as he saw first the hull and then the masts of an outbound ship disappear beyond the distant horizon. He knew the ship had not sunk because the ~Aeee eee wom ALL fen ee coo mee td “aA determination rare to youth he pledged to himself that he would find the cause of this, little real izing that this boyish observation would upset the theory of his time that the world was flat, and eventually prove that the world is round. Years passed before his theory could be proven, for like most of us he had to earn a living in work not to his liking, and in boyhood he helped his father in the trade of weaving. Restlessly he tossed on his bed many a night, dreaming of a so lution to the puzzle of the disap pearing and reappearing ships on the ocean’s horizons. At last the urge became too great. He left home to travel over the sea, al ways in his mind seeking an answer to the puzzle. Voyages along the coast and across the Mediterranean and along the Af rican coasts convinced him more and more that the world was round, not flat as everyone thought. He made maps and charts of all his voyages. In 1475 he kept a bookshop with his brother in Lisbon where they made and sold maps and charts. Marriage with a lady of noble birth gave him more time to think about his problem. He would not believe that if he should sail to the west the ocean would drop off before he reached another shore. He argued that if this were true the ocean would be drained of all its water. One night while on one of his many trips seeking help he stop ped at a monastery to ask for food and lodging. There he met a good friar who became interested in his theory and who implored Queen Isabella of Spain to aid Columbus. She gave him some money and he borrowed the rest. It was a hard job to get men to make the voyage because they did not wish to risk their lives on his so-called “crazy voyages.” Finally, freedom was offered to convicts who would go. August 3, 1492, Columbus sailed westward with three small ships, the Nina, which carried 18 men; the Pinta, with 27, and the Santa Maria, the largest of the three, the flagship with Columbus in command of a crew of 52 men. The Santa Maria was only 63 feet long and 20 feet wide. Even to day with our great knowledge of the sea few would dare to cross the Atlantic in ships so small. Af ter several weeks without sight ing land he noticed the variations of the compass. At this his men became frightened and threatened mutiny. But Columbus was de termined to reach land and he never faltered in his course. October 11, 1492, they saw flocks of birds, some carved wood and the branch of a wild rose in the water. That night as he watched from the ship he thought he saw a light rising and falling. Land had been found. The next morning he went ashore with the royal flag of Spain and christened it San Salvador. He knelt to of fer a prayer of thanksgiving. His youthful idea was right. He would no longer be called a dreamer. On landing he found the most beautiful trees he had ever seen, and well-built, strong men whom he called Indians, because he be lieved he had reached the East Indies. Columbus made three later voyages to the new lands, still believing them to be part of the East Indies. For a time he was honored and praised, but when the Spaniards did not realize their hopes of gaining great wealth, they laid the blame on Columbus, who passed his last days until his death in 1506 in poverty and disgrace. To the last Columbus believed he had reached Asia. He did not know that he had found a new world and that, although his search for gold had been practic ally in vain, he had opened the way to vast wealth and resources. In view of the results of his ad ventures he is considered the greatest discoverer in the history of the world. We can learn many lessons from the character of Columbus. He had a dream and was willing to study and work many years to make his dream come true. He held to his idea in spite of the scorn of many who thought it wrong but because of his per sistence he aided the progress of civilization more than can ever be fully realized. He was cour ageous, for even today few would dare to do what he did. And, fin ally, he had faith that with God’s help he could succeed. LUCILLE BLANCHETTE RICHARD STRIDE
Newspaper Details
Biddeford Daily Journal
Biddeford, Maine, US
Sat, Oct 12, 1940
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Diane C.
ME, USA 07 Jul 2026
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