Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1888 — Origin of the Name of America. [ARTICLE]

Origin of the Name of America.

Only a few years ago a vigorous effort was made to pull Columbus from his pedestal as the discoverer of America, which by many was considered rank injustice, as Amerigo Vespucci had already robbed him of the honor of naming the continent. According to what we have been taught, Amerigo heard of the discoveries of Columbus and determined to secure to himself some of the glory. He made four journeys to the new world, and left behind him many maps and charts. On these he distinguished the new world as America, or Amerigo’s Land. What schoolboy has not felt indignant when he first heard of this injustice to Columbus ? But now it appears, from a recent book by a great scholar, that Amerigo was not trying to take undue credit. The country of Venezuela, in which was the first settlement of the Spaniards, was called by the natives Amaracapana—pana meaning land—that is, Aniaraca land. Four centuries ago nearly everybody "spelled by ear,” as orthography was not fixed, so the transition to America land and finally to America was very easy. —Golden Days.