Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-05-21
The Play at Venice.

The following consider of the very best so-
ries ION record" a- F.
Some years since German Prince, making the
tour Of Europe, stopped, for short period, al We
nice. Ii was the close of Summer; the Adriatic
was calm, the nights were lovely, and the Vene-
tian in the fall enjoy nlenl of those delicious
spirits, that, in their climate rise and fall With the
coming and departure of the finest season of the
year Every day was given BY The illustrous
stranger TO research amung the records and anti
quities of this singular city, aud every night par.
ties on the Breuta Ii was the CUSTOM to return
when the incoming nigh, from the " ater, to
sup at some of the palaces of the nobility.
81 In the commencement of his Intercourse, all ma
tional distinctions were carefully suppf essed but
as his intimacy increased, he was forced 10 see
the lurking vanity Of the Italians breaking out.
One Of It's most frequent exhibitions, was in the
little dramas that wound Up these stately festivals
The wit was constantly sharpened by some con
trast of the latan aud the German, some slight as
PERSONS Teuionic rudeness. some remark on
the history of people Untouched by the elegance
of southern manners. The sarcasm was convey.
ed with Italian grace ard the offence softeued by
the humor. IL was obvious that the only retalia-
ton must be humorous. e
At length the Prince, on the potent OK ticking
leave. invited his entertainers 10 a farewell sup
per. tie drew the conversation to the infinite su.
periorty of the Italian, and above all the Ventan,
acknowledged the darkness in which Germany
mad been so long destined to remain, and looked
forward with Infinite sorrow 10 the comparative
opinion OF postery upon country to which so
little of its gratitude must be due. "But nv lords
said he. "we arc an emulous people, and an ex.
ample like yours, cannot be lost even upon Ger
man. have been charmed with your dramas.
and have contrived little arrangement to give
one of your country, if you will coudescend to fol-
low me to the great hail." The cnmpany rose
and followed him through the rpendid suit of We.
nitian villas to the hall, which was fitted I'd as
barn. -~e.-t
The aspect of the theatre produced at FIST sur.
prise,and next a universal smile. II had no resem.
b'ance TO the gilded saloons of their own sumptu-
Gus little theatres. However it was only SO much
the more Teutonie. The curtain rose. The sur.
prise rose into loud laughter even among the We.
i.i,ans, who had seldom been betrayed beyond a
smile for generations together.
The stage was temporary erection rude and
uneven. The scenes represented wretched and
irregular street. scarcely lighted by few twink
ling lamps and looking the fit haunt of robbery
and assassination. On narrow view, some oil
the spectators began to think it had kind Of re-
semblance to an Italian street, and some actually
discovered it to be one oil the leadidg streets OF
their own famous city. But the play was on a
German story; they were under German roof;
the street, notwithstanding its I'll omened similitude,
must of course be German. The street was, soil
iary. At length traveller. German, with ps-
tolls 10 his belt, and apparently exhausted by his
journey. came pacing along. He knocked at sew
eral doors. but could obtain no admission. He
then wrapped himself up in his cloak, sat down
on the fragment Of monument, and began 70 So