The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-10

at point where Venice IL two miles distant from the
main land The soil Of the bottom OF the lagoon 10 mud
and the the water through which the bridge Is carried
varies in depth from three to thirteen feet This great
work was nearly i've In the course or
nearly million of dollars II is now traversed daily
by various trains and the result Of this easy connection
with the main land has already been an increased com
merciai prosperity and new seems to be dawning
for Venice The population is increasing, instead Of
diminishing and many Of the old palaces that have been
for years are now being repaired and rem
Most striking to the stranger In Venice is the silence
the melancholy silence which prevails Thousands
equipages Of other European capitals here give way
the beautiful gondoa, rowed by sondolers In livery
and instead Of having stables and houses attached
to their palaces the wealthy venetans have
ly decorated posts surmounted by their of
emerging from the water in front Of their doors and
within these lie their gondolas when not In use f.
A circumstance which tends to increase tho melan-
choy ana suspicious appearance Of everythng Venice
is the fact that all the gondoas In deep back-the
boat itself-the canopy-the cushions-all bear this
Ing gondola as II were entering floating hearse to
perform the last journey Of life Black may almost be
called the national color Of the Veneans and many Of
the ladies appear In no other than black dresses.
Their dark skim flowing jet black hair, and bril-
liant black eyes, are rendered still more peculiar and
beautiful by their garb Of deep black, and large veil
Of the same hue thrown over their head and shout
ders. The seventy.two islands which Venice
is built scarcely be gushed the city is very
dcnsey constructed and in all directions by
$50 small canals which all the purposes Of streets
and the only means Of transport to various parts Of thu
|
New York, and the migrating Venetians moving al
their goods and chattes in gondoas. There abou
800 bridges in Venice by the help Of which almost
part of the city may be reached foot but the small
passages wind and twist In such manner to form
perfect labyrinth and render it almost impossible TO
| the STRANGER to find his way without guide. Thes
passages are often extremely narrow that two per
cannot walk abreast and nevertheless they
as streets through the middle of the islands and
much used by the poorer class Of Venetians, who's
means are too limited to afford them the luxury Of
gondola.
The Broadway of Venice is the Grand Canal which
passes through the city in the form Of s. 1t is very
wide and bounded each side by the most magnificent
palaces formerly the princely mansions OF the Doges
In passing along the canal the gondoers take the great
est pleasure in pointing out to the stranger the former
residences of celebrated individuals We pass the r.
laces Contarini, Foscar and Moconigo, and are told
that the latter avorte residence of Lord Byron
The magnificent buildings which formed the Exchange
In the days OF Shyock and Antonio in dilapi
dated state and the most noble where the purse
proud Jew once demanded his pound of flesh is now
strewn with bones and rags, and has become the play
ground of the rats. The greatest ornament of the
Grand Canal is the celebrated bridge of the Ralto 1t
wide that row of shops find ON each side to
their In the middle the vendors
oranges, figs maccaron cheese and other Italian fa
vorites The peculiar life Of Venice Is this spotant
here Is life indeed The vendors Of all the necessarie
| for domestic comfort, from shoe backing aud ic,
cream up to crockery ware and sausages collected
in this nsighborhood; and each one Is trying to out
scream the other in lauding his to discerning
public No Italian sells any thing in the street, withou
making known its qualities and price at the very top
his voicethe bedlam thus produced is indsscribable
Another object Of great interest Is the Place Of Sain
Mark, and undoubtedly without rival in the world
Its combination of all that is wonderful and b, autfu
1t is nearly 600 feet long, and between 200 and 800 wd
being bounded by the grand Basca of St Mark in from
by the or bureaus of the oil
| republic Those bureaus used cafes and III
collonades extending entirely around, form magnii
cent promenade 1t IS said that the Cafe Florian hi
not been closed for 800 years with but exception
ring the wars OF Napoleon. The Venetians 60 the ca
at midnight and play chess till morning. then retire ii
dine T. visit the theatre from till 70 and again ps
chess in the codee-houses till daybreak. o. T. q.