Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-03-29


ed by high wall, as is the with many of
the towns in this part OF the world. Most of the
buildings on both sides of The streets have ball
comics or projections, over the sidewalks, which
protect the pedestrians from the weather There
are many ancient edIices here, some of which
very imposing in appearance. There is
leaning Tower here, but it is not much of
curiosity as that at Pisa. It is called the g Gar
isenda;" is about one hundred and fifty feet
high, cad leans over about nine feet from per-
pendicular line.
Pa3Ha, july l7h.-This is another city, similar
to Bologna in size and appearance, and its anti
guilty is said to exceed that of Rome itself.
We travelled from Bologna to Padua (as we
have mostly in Italy,) in the " Diligence which
is huge, inconvenient stage coach, and is drawn
by from three to seven horses, according to the
state of the roads. The diligence is divided into
several apartments. or places for the passengers,
varying in price according to the Recommendations
and comfort. The first apartment, lin rear of
the horses, and under the drivers seat) has
three seats, and is called the coupe; the next is
the interieuy, having six seats, half facing the
other half; and the rear apartment, with six
seats, is called the rotonde in which the passen-
gers ride sideways. On the top, behind the
driver, is the banquet having seats for three per-
sons two can also sit with the driver. The
baggage is all carried the top, in the rear of
the banquet. The banquet has usually a top
over it, similar to chaise, which can be raised
or lowered, as may be desired, This is the place
strangers usually take, if they getit, as they
L
ling
The country, through which we passed to-day,
is nearly fat, filled, for long distance, with
swamps and water; and the road is built on
raised embankment, for at least fifty miles, and
must have required vast expenditure. The
roads very dusty, and the inns, as usual, here
in the country are miserable, dirty holes-so
that our journey was any thing but comfortable
and pleasant.
On our way, we crossed the river Pc, into the
Austrian dominions, and were subjected to a long
and vexatious delay, in critical and particular
examination of our passports and baggage. All
CIR clothing, letters, papers, &C., overhauled
and examined, hy the officers and soldiers; and
we were finally let at, after detention of about
two hours, upon the pay;nen: OF liberal fee.
The Austrian Government officers; en- the from
tiers, are ordered to keep sharp lookout, after
all English and American travellers, lest they
might introduce some revolutionary notions
among the people here.
The Pc, where we crossed it, is about three
fourths of mile wide, and is rapid, turbid
stream, as nearly all the rivers have seen in
Europe. We were carried over it IN large, fat
bottomed ferry boat, which was propelled oblique
~ across by the force Of the curreDt-the boat
being attached by loops to a strong wire reaching
from shore to shore
Venice, July l9h-From Padua, we travelled
by railway to Venice, which was reached in about
an hour. The rail road crosses the strait which
separates Venice from the main land, on cause
way OF massive stone-work. two miles in length,
and terminates at of the small Islands, at the
outskirts of the city Upon our arrival, after the
usual examination of baggage and passports, we
sengers and alter sailing through several streets
cf,oater, we were landed at the steps of the "Ho-
tel de Europe"
Many are the pages, botn Of poetry and prose-
that have been written, descriptive of the singu-
lar city of Venice. But, so totally unlike all
other cities of the world is it, that the reading of
the most particular description would give one
but little idea of the reality. 1t seems like large
city inundated with It's streets several feet under
water. And as you sail through the flooded
streets, it is difficult to imagine that the scene
before you is as old as the city itself-permanent
and interchangeable, and you cannot dispel the idea,
that soon the waters will recede. leaving the
ST IA baro n to- +I,,~
Most of the houses, churches, &c, front on
canal, instead of paved street; indeed, it has
been said, with how much truth, 1 know not)
that every building in the city has its front or
rear facing on canal.
Not horse or animal of any kind, is kept
here and no other city in the world is so per-
fectly still and quiet. You hear no rafting of
carts or wagons, or the tramp of horses feet
nothing but the noise Of man is heard.
There are few sidewalks, small alleys. and
short paved streets; but nearly all the business
has to be done by means of boats-gondolas. as
they are called. If lady has calls 10 make, or
shopping to do, she steps into her gondola at her
door, and is quietly padded off, wherever she
wishes to go-the merchant, when he goes to his
counting-room, "down town." or the mechanic
to his shop, each takes his gondola, and is quick
ly landed at his place of business and the gon-
dola must generally be put in requisition, when
ever the children sent to school, or the family
go to church, or jaunt is taken out of town.
There arsvery few streets or yards for the chill
dren toplay in, or sidewalks to trundle their
hoops upon--all out Of doors is water, water A
capital place for lazy people, is it not So little
walking is necessary to be done, that you have
but very little for your feet here-and it would
be one of the last places should recommend
shoemaker to go to, for the purpose of setting up
his business. To your inquiry, whether the eel
lars under the houses are not wet, reply, that.
Judging from what saw, should think they
might at least be somewhat damp Bathing
rooms in the dwelling houses are unnecessary;
as, when one wishes to take bath, he can stem
either to the front or back door, and plunge into
the water and it is no uncommon sight, in the
twilight of pleasant evening, to see dozens of
people, washing their feet and bodies on their
door steps, or swimming about in the water. Ac.
cidental drowning, it is said, seldom happens.
The tide Gibbs and flows from one to three feet
in the canals; and they are kept very clean and
pure, nothing being allowed to be thrown into
them. Scayenger's boats are constantly passing
about, to receive whatever the people wish carried
away. The canals, or streets of water, are gem
orally from ten to twenty feet wide; although
some OF them are still wider. The "Grand
Canal is from two hundred to three hundred
feet wide. 1t curves like an 8 nass;ro, ,lro,,,.h