New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-05-26
The PLAY at; Venice.

vas the close Of summer the Adriatc was calm, the
lights were lovely, the Venetian women were in the
nll enjoyment Of those delicious spirits that in their
climate, rise and fall with the coming and departure
IF the finest season of the year. Every day was given
BY the illustrous stranger to researches among the
records Of antiquities Of this singular city, and every
night to parties on the Brenta Of the sea- As the
morning was nigh, it was the custom to return from
the water to sup atsome Of the palaces OF the nobility
In the commencement Of his intercourse all national
distinctions were carefully suppressed. Butas hisin
timaoy increased, he was forced to see the lurking
vanity of the Italian breaking out. One OF its most
frequent exhibitions was in the little dramas that
wound up these stately festivals. The wit was CON
santly sharpened by some contrast OF the Italian and
the German some slight aspersions on Ieutonc rude
ness, some remark on the history OF people un-
sarcasm was conveyed with Italian grace, and the
offense softened by its humor. 1t must be obvious
thatsthe only retaliation must be humorous.
at length the Prince, on the point Of taking leave,
invited his entertainers to a farewell supper. lie
drew the conversation to the infinite superiority of
the Italian, and above all the Venetian; acknow-
lodged the darkness in which Germany had been des-
tined to remain so long, and looked forward with inf
mite sorrow to the comparative opinion Of posterty
upon the country to which so little OF its gratitude
must be due. !" But, my lord, said he, we are an
emulous people, and example like yours cannot be
lost, even upon German. have been charmed
with your dramas, and have contryed little arrange
ment to give one Of our country, if you will condo
rose and followed him through the splendid suite OF
Venetian villas to the hail. which was fitted up as
German barn. The aspect OF the theater produced
first surprise, and next an universal SMILE. 1t had no
resemblance to the gilded and scuptured saloons OF
their own sumptuous little theaers However, it was
only SO much more Teutonic. The curtain drew up
The surprise rose into loud laughter even among the
Venetians, who have seldom been betrayed into any
thing beyond smile, for generations together. The
stage was a temporary erection, rude ard uneven,
The scenes represented a wretched and irregular
street, scarcely lighted by few twnkng lamps and
looking the fit haunt of robbery and assassination.
On narrow view some OF the noble spectators be-
gan to think it had kind Of resemblance to an
Italian street, and some actually discovered in it one
of the leading streets of their famous city But
the play was on German story-they were under a
German roof. The street was, notwithstanding its
ill-omened similtude, German The street was soil
tary At length atrayeer, German, with pistols in
a belt round his waist, and apparently exhausted by
his journey, came pacing along. He knocked at
several doors, but could obtain no admission.
He wrapped himself up in his cloak, sat down on a
fragment Of monument, and soliloquized "Well,
here have l come, and this is my reception. All
palaces, no inns all mobiles, and not man to tell
me where can lie down in comfort or in safety.
Well it cannot be helped. A German does not much
care campaigning has hardened effeminacy among
us hunger and thirst heat and cold, dangers of war
and the roads not very formidable after what we
have had to work through father to son. Loneliness,
however, is not SO well, unless man can labor or
He took volume from his pocket, moved nearer to
the decaying lamp, and soon seemed absorbed. An
other soon shared the eyes of the spectators A
long, light figure with kind of visionary move.
ment, from behind the monument, surveyed the
traveller with keen curiosity listened with apparent
establishment to his words, and in another moment
had fixed itself gazing over his shoulder on the vol
ume. The eyes Of this singular being wandered
rapidly over the page, and when it turned, they
were lifted to heaven with the strongest expression Of
wonder. The German was weary, his head dropped
over his study, and he closed the book. WHAT
said he rising and stretching his mbs lis there nc
one stirring in this comfortess place? Is it neal
day? He took out his repeater, touched the pen
dant it struck four. His mysterious attendant watch
ed him narrowly the repeater was traversed over with
an eager gaze; but when it struck, delight was
mingled with wonder that had Till then Tiled Its pale
intelligent countenance.
"Four O'clock" said the German. " In my country
half the world would be thinking of going to their
days work by this time. In another hour it will be
sunrise. Well, then I'll do you service you nations
OF sleepers, and make you open your eyes, He
drew out one of his pistols, and shot it, The attend
ant form still lowered behind him, and looked curl
ousy upon the pistol but on its going off, started back
in terror and with loud cry that made the traveller
turn Who are you ?? was his greeting to this strange
intruder :" I win not hurt yon," was the answer
tWho cares about that 2" was the Germans retort
and he pulled out the other pistol. My FRIEND said
the figure, even that weapon of thunder and light
ming cannot reach me now-but if you would know
moment. You seem man of extraordinary powers
well them said the German in genter voice, Il
you come as friend, shall be glad to give you nor
nation, it is the custom of our country to den,
nothing to those who will love to learn The forne
sighed deeply and mourned, " and You are a Teuton
that you were just reading in little case of strange
and yet most interesting figures was it manu-
script ?n "No, it was printed book"
"Printed, what is printing? Inever heard but o
| writing It is art by which one man can Civ
to the world in one day as much as three hundred
could give by writing, and in character of superio
clearness, correctness and beauty one by which
books are made universal, and literature eternal"
Admirable, glorious art, said the enquirer, who VA
its illustrious inventor!
GA German"
"But another question. I saw you look at mos
curious instrument traced with figures, it sparkle
with diamonds, but its greatest wonder tssount
1t gave the hour with miraculous exactness and til
strokes were followed by tones superior to the
est music of the day."
GLOW, when had the uxures of the earth at n,
command, had nothing to tell the hour better tina
the clepsydra and the sun dial But this must be il
comparable from its facility of being carried abou
1t must be an admirable guide even to higher know
edge. All depends upon the exactness of time.
; may assist navigation, astronomy. What an inve
! ton whose was it? he mnst be more than man."
" He was German" -
"What still a barbarian :? 1 remember his natlo
l once saw an auxiliary legion of them marching
wards Rome They were bold and brave blue eye
troop. The whole city poured out to see those No
them warriors, but we looked on them only as say
GEES l have one more question, the most interestn
Of all. saw you raise your hand with small tril
l. cheon on it in moment something rushed out til
seemed q portion of the fire of the clouds. We
they thunder and lightning that l saw? Did thu
come by your command? Was that truncheon a tai
> man, and are you mighty magician? was that tru
~ cheon sceptre commanding the elements are y
r god?"
= The strange inquirer had drawn back gradually
~ his'eeings rose. Curiosity was now solemn wond
and he stood gazing upwards in an attitude that M
:, gled awe with devotion. The German felt the sem
% ton of superior presence growing on himself as
" looked on the fixed countenance Of this mysteric
) being. 1t was in that misty blending Of light a
- darkness, which the moon leaves as it sinks just
:, fore morn. There was single hue of pale gray
the east, that touched its visage with chill ligl
y, the moon, resting broadly the horizon was setti
behind the figure seemed as if it was standing in
orb. Its arms were lifted towards heaven, and
- light came through its drapery with the mild spl
y dor of vision. But the German habltuatcd to
y vcisstudes of" peris by flood or field, shock oil
~ brief alarm, and proceeded calmly to explain
~ source of this miracle. He gave slight detail OF
Il machinery Of the pistol and alluded to the history
o. o. gunpowder. :" 1t must be mighty instrument in
- hands of man, for either good or ILL., said the form
~ d How much it must change the nature Of war. H
u much it must influence the fate of nations! By VIII
was this wondros secret revealed to the reader W
8 earth ~
~ "a German" -....
70 The form seemed suddenly to enlarge, its feeblen
u of voice was gone its attitude irresstibly mol
IN Before it uttered word it looked as made to p