The Discovery of America

 

The Discovery of America 

By BESSIE F. DODGE.

  OFFICIAL HYMN AND OFFICIAL POEM FOR THE OFFICIAL CELEBRATION OF THE COLUMBUS DAY ON THE OCTOBER TWELFTH,  IN THE SCHOOLS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS DAY IS OFFICIALLY CALLED THE DISCOVERY DAY AND AS WELL THIS IS THE NATIONAL HOLIDAY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND IS CALLED THE FLAG DAY. ON THE COLUMBUS DAY THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS RAISED.

A PLAY - For thirteen children each reciting one verse - one child at a time.

THIS PLAY IS COMMEMORATION OF THE REAL HISTORICAL EVENTS WHICH HAPPENED ON THE SHIPS OF THE CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IN 1492.

October twelfth is Discovery Day; 
And I'll tell you one thing more- 
To discover is to find out 
What was not known before.

Hundreds of years ago, 

In fourteen-ninety-two, 

Christopher Columbus 

Sailed over the ocean blue.

Before that time, white people 

Lived on the other side, 

And between them and America 

Lay the Atlantic, deep and wide.

Columbus was an Italian, 

His home was near the sea; 

In school he studied geography, 

That he a sailor might be.

All but this Columbus 

Thought the world was small and_flat,

And if they traveled very far, 

Would come to the edge-think of that.  

He tried to prove to learned men 

That the earth is like a ball, 

But only a very few 

Would listen to him at all.

At last, Queen Isabella,

Said she believed him any way, 

And helped to fit out three small ships 

To sail westward without delay.

After sailing for many weeks, 

The men were filled with alarm, 

And planned if Columbus did not turn back,

To do him cruel harm.

Columbus understood how they felt, 

And said if in three days more 

They did not see signs of land, 

They would return to their homeward shore.

But before the time was over, 

Land was in full view, 

Indians were here and there, 

In wigwam and canoe.

Columbus in a scarlet robe, 

With Spain's banner in his hand, 

With the sailors went on shore 

And thanked God for the beautiful land.      

This country was named America, 

But some people think-do you?- 

That it should have been Columbia, 

For Columbus brave and true.

This fact then do not forget, 

Whatever else you do;

 Columbus discovered America

In 1492.     

THE HYMN IS PRESENTED AS IT IS AS IT WAS FOUND IN THE AMERICAN MAGAZINE OF THE MINISTERY OF THE EDUCATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR TEACHERS- PRIMARY EDUCATION, YEAR 1908, VOLUME NUMBER 10, MONTH OF OCTOBER.

THIS HYMN WAS OFFICIALLY RECOMMENDED FOR THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS AS THE OFFICIAL PLAY AND CONCERT ON THE OFFICIAL CELEBRATION EVENT OF THE CRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DAY ON THE DAY OF THE 12TH OF OCTOBER OF  THE YEAR 1908.