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PAGE NINE

THE DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

Abraham Zacuto, The Aid of Columbus

MOONLIGHT PLANNED BY /
BICUR CHOLEM, JRS.

In the winter of 1486, when Chris- aryl Isabella, immediately after he
Renewing their annual moonlights
topher Columbus, disheartened by the had first met and exchanged ideas which had been discontinued for sev-
rebuffs he had encountered in Portu- with Lacuto and was inspired by the eral seasons during the war, Bicur
gal, first arrived in Salamanca, in latter to persist in his great under- Cholem, Juniors, are preparing for
Spain, he first met Abraham Zacuto, taking. The convenient Commission the evening of August 12 with a vim
the Jewish astronomer and mathema- of royal counsellors to which the that promises great things. The com-
tician of this place. Columbus had monarchs referred the "visions" of mittee, headed by Daniel H. ,:hapero,
now reached a land the court of which Columbus made no report on the mat- commenced preparations with the de-
was impoverished by the national ter. Ily Zacuto's influence Columbus termination that the opening Mem
campaigns against the Moors. It was tried his fortune with another aud- t.holem peace-time moonlight is to
thus compelled to seek means which ience of Ferdinand and Isabella, set a high standard for those to come,
readily and quickly would serve to who again referred his plans to a and from indications, it is apparent
replenish the treasury, and conse- second royal commission. This com- that their most sanguine expretations
quently was scarcely likely to pay at- mission, unlike its predecessor, gave will be exceeded.
tention to the interesting project of Columbus a full and patient hearing.
The Steamer "Put-in-Bay," with 3
Columbus for a shorter route to the Unlike the first, this commission was capacity of 4,000, has been chartered
Spice Islands of the Far East. Col- not composed of royal counsellors, for the evening, and will make a trip
umbus was received in audience at sycophants of the king and queen, to l.ake St. Clair. While dancing will
court; but the court of Spain was no but of scholars and men of letters. he the predominating feature of the
whit wiser than the court of Portugal Perhaps the influence of Zacuto Is evening, a number of high-class en-
and thought so little of hi, represen- discoverable in this connection, for tertaining numbers are being ar-
tations that it turned these over to its his powerful and indefatigable patron, ranged for, assuring a varied program
counsellors; in other words, buried the Bishop of Salamanca, sponsored of pleasure.
them beyond recall in the mazes of the second commission, and the word
'I ickets are procurable from any
court etiquette and official procedure. of this great ecclesiastical authority member of the organization. All ar-
Under these circumstance , it is not must have borne a profound weight rangements are in the hands of the
surprising that Columbus' hope and with the pious, superstitiously relig- following: Misses Anna Shapero,
courage seemed to fail him. But in ious queen. And, while the bishop
innie lienderoff, Charlotte Price,
this extremity he turned to a onto patronized the commission, Zacuto and Messrs. Aaron Silberblatt, Ber-
whom he found to be one after his was its real head. lie, the man of nard Weinberg, Manuel M. Rosen-
scientific attainments, weighed Co-
own heart, Abraham Zacuto.
thal, Nathaniel I). Metzger and
Zacuto was by virtue of his calling lumbus' plans in the balance and
Charles Rubiner.
as much of a dreamer and idealist as found them not wanting. or
Thereupon the admiral was welcom-
was Columbus. The latter unfolded to
hint his dream that the world was ed at the court of Ferdinand and
round, that it was possible, therefore, Isabella, although, as was shown in
by sailing in a westward path to the previous paper in this series, the
MR. BENDIX MEYERFIELD
reach the east and that all this re- monarchs themselves did nothing to
quired for its realization was the realize his attempts to fit out his ex-
After a lingering illness extending
actual effort. Zacuto responded pedition.
Indeed, for the next few years,— over eighteen Years, Mr, Bendix Hey-
readily. He oust have told the great
these
events
of
which
we
have
iust
erfield,
for thirty years a resident of
navigator that his plan was not only
feasible, but that his studies and re- spoken occurred in 1486 and 1487,— Monroe and Detroit, passed away on
Columbus
simply
"marked
time"
at
Tuesday
last. Mr. bleverfield was
searches, investigations and conclu-
sions had led hint to a similar result. the court of Spain. The war still born in Monroe, Mich., and lived in
harassed the land, a sufficient excuse this state until he was thirty years
His Early Life.
to secure the postponement of his old when, with his wife and son, ‘Vil-
In early life Zacuto had been a immediate plans for work. lie was, liam, he went abroad for his health.
student at the famed University of however, granted a pension, and be- For eighteen years they lived in Ger-
Salamanca. lie was studimisly in- gan those weary years of attendance many and thrilling and varied were
clined, and so did not give up the on the court which finally were to their experiences during the world
pleasures of a bookish life when end, as we have seen, in such signal war. After much difficulty in obtain-
ing passports, they returned to this
graduated from academic halls. He Success.
In these five years, while Columbus country last month.
contiued to work amid books and in
followed
the
royalties
whither
they
Surviving Mr. Mcyerfield besides
a laboratory, and absorbed the new
learning, new in the sense that it had went, to Malaga, Santa Fe, Cordova. his widow and son, Williatn, are his
and
Seville,
he
occasionally
met
and
sisters, Mrs. Louis Welt, Mrs. Na-
been forgotten for a thousand years,
imbedded in the literary treasures of conversed with his friend, Abraham than Newfnan and Miss Rosie Meyer-
Zacuto. Zacuto gave him new hope field of this city, and Mrs. Meyer
the ancient Greeks.
lie saw how the minds of active and enocuragement for the realiza- Friendly of New York. The funeral
men reached out for exploration on tion of his plans while they discussed was held Wednesday, Rabbi Samuel
the sea. lie realized how limited the flatters both had so much at S. Mayerburg officiating.
was the knowledge of natural laws heart. For his expedition, which both
with which they met their problems: rightly believed to be within the
Here, then, was a worthy task for a realm of the practicable. Zacuto ad-
man to set hand to. Out into the un- vised Columbus to equip himself with
known, then, sped the mind of the the best paraphernalia and himself
young student, grappling with the supplied the astronomical charts and
wheeling stars, the tossing waves, the the nautical instruments so sorely
coursing storms, studying, classifying. needed.
Edward S. Abeles, the well-known
Finally, success crowded the reso-
Early, the Bishop of Salamanca, who
theatrical artist, passed away in New
was head of the university, saw lute efforts of Columbus, aided by the
York
recently.
Zacuto's possibilities. lie made him counsels and tangible support of
Mr. Abeles was born November 4,
professor of astronomy. This made • acuto. As we have seen, the former
18W, and was raised in St. Louis and
it possible for Zacuto to pursue his was finally enabled to tit out for his
graduated from the Central High
studies unhampered by outside in- voyage. In the course of the year
School. lie studied law and grad-
1492 the expedition began to take
terests.
uated from St. Louis Law School and
Zacuto was the scholar who had proper shape. It was an accomplished
was admitted to the Bar and prac-
adapted the astrolabe, that celebrated fact, and only the actual setting
ticed in St. Louis. He also did jour-
instrument of mediaeval mathematics, forth of it on the wide and unknown
nalistic and amateur theatrical work
which Jehuda Crcsques, the "Map deep remained.
And now the expedition set sail in this city. Mr. Abeles left for New
Jew," had applied for the uses of
York City at the age of 21, to enter
astronomy and not merely of naviga- from Palos on Friday, August 3, 1492.
upon a professional stage career. His
tion. Zacuto had made it of iron in- Faint and fainter pealed the bells of
stead of wood, thus increasing its the Church of St. George as the car- first engagement was in "Alabama,"
which was written by Augustus
efficiency many fold. He was the man avels crossed the bar of the Saltes
who made the best astronomical and dropped the Spanish coast be- Thomas, also a St. Louisan. He was
successful from the start and ap-
charts. lie was the man who plotted hind. Until the Canaries were
the stars so that any master mariner reached, they sailed a more or less peared in many notable productions.
of sense could tell where he was just traveled sea. But when they dropped He was the star of "Brewster's Mil-
by making observations at night. Ile the last of the group below the hori- lions," his greatest success,. which he
was the man whose data on meteoro- zon they were alone—the first intrud- played for three consecutive seasons.
logical conditions in the Mediterran- ers upon the Sea of Darkness. And This play was picturized and he ap-
ean were invaluable. lie even made this was a sea tilled with unnamed peared in his original character in the
improvements in the dividers upon terrors. Everybody believed it was screen version, and also appeared in
which mariners placed so much re- inhabited by horrid monsters, big other pictures. His last engagement
enough frequently to swallow a ship was in 'Oh, Lady, Lady," in which
liance.
at a mouthful. Pleasant thoughts for he appeared for ninety weeks, closing
Scientific Work.
the ignorant sailors, who had no his season on the first of June last.
dream
to uphold them and were not Mr. Abeles was a Mason, Elk, mem-
And then he compiled his A.Imailach
Perpetuum, containing quardrennial fortified by the calm, parting coun- ber of the famous Lambs Club, Ac-
tors' Fund, and many other organiza-
tables of the sun, moon and stars. It sels of a Zacuto!
Day after day they plowed on. tions and clubs. The funeral serv-
enabled men to know just where the
pilots of the heavens should stand at Whispered dissatisfaction arose ices were held in New York at the
various seasons. It was the greatest among the crew. Columbus was Universal Chapel, where services
book of its kind, far in advance of here, there, everywhere, addressing were conducted by Rabbi Eiseman,
anything dune previously. This was the sailors, buoying them with his of New York. Mr. Abeles was the
the work of which Vecinho, a Portu- own valiant spirit, momentarily allay- son of the late David and Toni
guese Jewish friend of Columbus, ing the discontent. As a pirate cap- Abeles, both well-known residents of
gave the latter a copy and which, in tain. doubtless, he had dealt some- St. Louis for many years. He is sur-
alter years, was to save the lives of what differently with ugly crews. But vived by his widow, Mrs. Louie
him and his crew in the faraway New the pirate captain was no more; in his Abides, nee Friedlander, one brother,
Samuel C. Abeles, one sister,
World. Five years Zacuto worked stead was a man tsho had learned pa-
tience and calmness through years of Mrs. Lena Vogel, and a niece, bliss
on it, wining nightly in his study.
It is surely of great interest to us discouragement at court, waiting Audrey Vogel.
to know how it was that Columbus about with sick heart but unfaltering
owed his life to Zacuto's astronomi- ;deals. Tradition says there was a
cal tables. It was in February, 1504. mutiny and that it was triumphantly
while on his third voyage. that a West suppressed and the New World
Indian hurricane overtook the ex- finally discovered, as has been
plorer. Two of the little caravels be- shown. The surmounting of these
g., to leak. But they were near dangers and difficulties was doubtless
"I shall not be afraid to stand up
Jamaica. and Columbus managed to due to the help afforded by Zacuto's
bring the fleet safely to land, where tables, charts, instruments and, above for justice for every woman brought
the ships were beached. His troubles all, steady advice.—liebrew Standard. into Women's Court—perhaps I don't
- know enough yet to be afraid—and I
were really just beginning.
lie became desperately ill; the food
shall see that no woman goes to jail
on the unsupported testimony of the
supply was water-soaked and useless;
policeman or detective who arrests,"
a' majority of his sailors, blaming
declared bliss Rosa Rothenberg, New
their plight on hint, became mutinous;
and the natives displayed marked
York County's first woman deputy-
LOST—WILL PARTY WHO
hostility and refused to give them
prosecutor, in outlining her policy.
PICKED UP GENTLEMAN'S
Miss Rothenberg was appointed by
food.
He summoned the Indian chieftains BLACK LEATHER BAG CON- District-Attorney Swann, of New
29. TAINING EXTRA SOLDIER'S York County, at a yearly salary of
to a council, the night of February
They came, sullen and hostile. Such UNIFORM AT B'NAI BRITH $1,6tx) The addition of a woman to
plights demand drastic measures. CLUB, LAST WEDNESDAY the law staff that prosecutes the cases
Staggering forth from his sick bed. NIGHT, BY MISTAKE, COM- of Manhattan Borough, was occa-
Columbus addressed them. lie played MUNICATE WITH THE DE-
i ted by the number of appeals from
upon their superstitions as a practised TROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE, 224 su
conviction brought up in Court of
hand sweeping the string of a harp. BOOK BLDG. (CHERRY 3381), General Sessions by young women
The God of the white men was angry AND RECEIVE HANDBAG CON- charged with disorderly conduct, on
at the Indians who would not bring TAINING WOMAN'S APPAREL the unsupported testimony of the
With - LEFT INSTEAD?
food! Accordingly, He would
police. Mr. Swann announced his in-
the light of the moon and
tention of attempting to mitigate this
draw
envelop the land in thick darkness!
REFINED JEWISH GENTLE- irregularity by appointing a woman
The
Abruptly. Columbus withdrew.
MAN wishes room with private fam- to his staff. Twenty applicants re-
chiefs stared at the moon and stirred ily. Can furnish references, if de- sponded to his announcement and
uneasily. As they looked, gradually sired. Call Mr. Eder, Hemlock 2975. bliss Rothenberg was selected.
the orb was blotted out. It was as if
-- The appointee is twenty-six years
a mighty hand spread ink upon it.
old and lives with her mother, broth-
ROOM FOR RENT—Big, bright,
They were stunned and territied at
sist.F r s al 138 West One Ilutt-
front bedroom; 3 windows; near 2 carle"
and
(heft
and 1 welfth street, Manhattan.
first.
"Save us. save us," they cried. "W,'e lines; no other roomers; private tam- She was born in Roumania and was
ily. Inquire 1175 Brush street.
will do what you command."
brought to this country by her mother
Columbus emerged and told theta
after the death of her fatner, an em-
that if they brought food immediately.
POSITION WANTED AS COL- ploye of the Roumanian Civil Service.
the darkness would be dispelled. be-
She graduated from the New York
LECTOR
AND
CANVASSER.
intercede for the m.
cause he would
HAVE THOROUGH KNOW L- University Law School in 1914, and
Food was brght,
great quantities of
ou
EDGE OF CITY. REFERENCES was admitted to the bar in 1916.
it; and gradually the moon reap- FROM PROMINENT BUSINESS Since that time, Miss Rothenberg has
peared.
MEN. Address Box 218, DETROIT been employed at the law offices of
Nathan Bourkan. at 1451 Broadway.
JEWISH CHRONICLE, Detroit.
Zacuto's Table Help.
The new deputy district-attorney
has always been interested in the
Zacuto's tables had foretold an
YOUNG MAN desires board with trials of women charged with disor-
eclipse that night, and Columbus had
seized upon this advance knowledge refined Jewish family, vicinity of derly conduct, and for that reason is
and used it to save the lives of all.
Medbury avenue preferred. Phone not inclined to consider her position
We return to Columbus in his first Northway 2518. Mr. J. Ratner.
a political office.
advances at the court of Ferdinand

OBITUARY.

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Thum. Oct. 10
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Fri., 1/et. 17
"Intel/nth Torah
ito.ch.1 hode•eh l'hem•nn. I'el.. Out. 21
5470-11119
m. N05. 33
Ito.eh.1 wade/Bch hialev
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Shabuoth 11. oath...nth/II hn• I
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Itoaell-Chntleaeh Tantntua •on.. Jone 271
30S0-1930
Toe• . Jnly 13
Fnat of Tannmn•
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Hon. July 2a i., ,,,,, o f Teheth
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Two.. lug. 5 Itoxeh-1 hodeneh Sheisat.„%1 ed. Jan. 21
Fast at Ab
H ed.. tug. 27
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3040-111111
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Smit e April 3
sal. (lat. 4 Pomo" er remleh I
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April II
Thum. slay
Lan 1, 'limn?
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Thea.. May 1.4
Sh•hooth tContIrmation Day)
atm. Hay 23

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•am e July 1

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F,-I.. July IN

Ennt or 46
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ann.. Sept. 12
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preceding the eorre•po•ding roannou