Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-08-27
From the CnciUati Gazette.
VENICE.

VENICE.
| always had u great desire to visit Venice,
and a singular city | found it. Its streets
are canals, and its carriages boats. The lower
part OF Cincinnati when ovcrllowed in 80 and
AZ, will give some idea Of its appearance, ma
king allowances for the houses here, being
built for the level Of the water The similar.
iiy struck me forcibly, when first entering
hence in an omnibus Gondola. The whole
aspect of the city is odd and unique, that |
found it difficulty to get the hang otit. Boats
are everywhere, end take the place Of all other
modes of conveyance; you can however,
walk all over Venice, every principal canal is
bordercd on one side By pave, and there
are squars and open spaces of ground, but all
the intermediate communications are by water
and it would take an hour or more to walk to
given point when the same might be reached
in few minutes by boats. Almost every
house has land and water communication,
and you see gondJla at nearly every door,
The wealthy keep them as we keep carriages
with iveried rowers instead of coachmen
A New York or London "tDhip" would be out
of his element here. He would have to ban.
die the oars in place of the ribbons, and pride
himself on close steering instead of driving
Gondola is 35 feet long, wide in the mid
de- tapering sharply at both ends, flat bot
toned, and very much raised fore and aft
In the centre is cabin feet long, that will
seat oil 6 persons, and in which IA man can
stand nearly upright. 1t is covered with black
cloth, and cushioned with black velvet, and the
boat itself, is of the same color, the size aud
hue being regulated by law. The cabin is
furnished with windows and blinds to open
and shut at pleasure. The whole concern is
sombre enough, and Bvrons description that
they are like coffin clasped in canoe,''
is not far from the truth. They glide smooth
ly, noiseessy along, and the occupants II
servation. They are propelled by one, or
more rowers, who stand upright facing the
bow, and the way they dodge one another in
the narrow can lis, and aronnd the corners is
amusing enough.
Venice shows everywhere the mark Of de-
cay: The hand of ruin is on its palaces and
houses: The habitatons of its ancient proud
Nub,es, are turned into barracks for Austrian
troops or used fo: the dwellings Of the poor
esl class, or else deserted and abandoned ;
nothing seems to be restored or built; but
the traces of permanen' decline meet you on
! all sides Her present desolation il is said cor
stractst with her former greatness, and i'm
presses you with melancholy feeling Yen-
ice has, however, one bright spot at least
the plaza Of St. Marks. large square G50
feet long by $50 wile-surrounit ted by uni
lioraily built houses with cclenades, running
! a..
by gay shops and cafes, is filed nightly with
citizens and strangers Ga Sunday evenings,
when the band plays, have seen some three
or four Thousand persons, men, women and
children walking around, or setting in Inc
numerous chairs before the cafes, taking their
ices, coffee or lemonade. It's brilliantly light.
ed and well paved, and the whole scene OF x
! pleasant summer night, cannot be surpassed
Tor beauty and etfect-al is quietness good
order and decorum, and every class Of the
city Is there: such places and assembages
cannot exist with us-they would be desc
Grated by not, noise and drunkenness, and
given up 10 tina; part of our population that
seem to Consider liberty and rowdyism as
SYNONYMOUS, and the freedom of action as a
license for disorder There are no 'Bhoys'
here, and have yet to see The first single
case uf iutoXication, or the least act of out.
rage in Italy.
The vandalism that destroys works OF art,
or pleasure grounds open tn the public is un-
known here, and we might pro6tably copy
the Italians in their sobriety and general pro-
prieiy Of conduct, in public, at least,
Venice, like all the cities Of this classic land
is filed with the creations Of genius and oh.
jects of virtue. The churches, galleries and
and palaces are rich in statuary, paintings,
mUsacs and marbles-thc collection Of form
CT ages. The only modern effort that does
her credit is the splendid railway bridge of
stone and brick, two and halt miles long, and
supported By 22J arches, that spans the la
COON from the main !anG to the city. Ii is no.
| ble structure, and almost redeems her from
the lethargy that peryades everything around
The gulf of Venice consider far superior
IN point OF beauty to the Bay of Naples
From The Grand Dukes Palace, or the top of
the lofty tower of St Marks, the view is
splendid. The vast sheet of water is dotted
with forts and Islands, and enlivened by gon.
dolas and other boats and vessels, and the
scenery around is striking in the extreme -
| have been much interested in this old CITY
of the DOdges" so famous in former times,
and the theatre of so many important events.
Tomorrow shake the dust, or rather wa
ter, from my feet, and take the road to Milan.
Venice. July, 1859. c. NEAVE.
--<0--
Little Benny.
So the simple head stone said. Why did