Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-10-08

gondola is a long, black. barrow; slender,
and light boat. with high bow and stern.
1t is about thirty feet long and four wide in
the middle, whence it tapers to very sharp
point at the bow and at the stern, the bow
being armed with broad, thin and sharp
piece of iron, cut with four big teeth below
and n sort OF broad-axe blade above, which
gives to the approaching bow quite bloody
minded look. The bow is plainly bastard
descendant of the PROV of the ancient Roman
galley About midway of the boat-a little
nearer the stcrn--is the cushioned, seated and
curtaincd cabin for the passengers. This
looks some like the body of an old-fashioned
coach, and more like modern funeral
hcarsc, the whole thing-boat, canopy, seats,
curtains and all being of dead black color.
The gondola, in form and color and appoint
ments, believe has not changed for centuries
except, that in few instances, are sc
cabin. On festal occasions, too, believe, they
deck them sometimes with much elegance, Civ
ing to the grand canal an appearance of great
| variety and liveliness. They are now much less
numerous than when Venice was in her pride.
| Where there are now only few hundreds,
| there were formerly as many thousands-an
old historian philippe de Comines,) says
that in his time $3.50 years ago. there were
have been crowded like Broadway on pub
| lie day. The gondolier stands erect in the
| stern of his gondola, and with single oar,
which he uses as a paddle, manages his boat
with great adrotness. There are no sails, of
| course.
The gondoliers partake something of the
| character of their boats and their employ
mcnt-being gentle, gliding and graceful in
their manner; they are tasteful and some
times fanciful in their dress-in this respect
differing from the race of drivers and coach
men ashore, who are proverbially coarse, UNI
graceful and gracelcss. l never heard from
gondolicr, any thing but words of gentlcncss
and politencss even, so far as manner was
concerned, even to his companions and fellows
whom he passed as he foated along. They
exercise much care and attention, too, in land
ing their passengers with safety. The ebb
and flow of the tide kcsps always wet and
sometimes slippery, the hag-stones upon
which the passengers are to step ashore, and
unless the gondola is properly brought along
side the step, and kept there, and unless the
passenger waits till the proper time, and step
with care, he may gcta dangerous fall. Lord
Byron was once thus slipped into the grand
canal, between the gondoa and the shore,
to his great chagrn and modification,
You often find at these new public land
ing places poor bcggar quietly stationed
there, and always offering his aid to secure
you safe and easy landing, for which, of
course, he expects a small gratuity. shall
always remember with regret, rcpulsing the
well meant offers of assistance of an old
mcndicant on such an occasion, before
knew the custom, supposing his offer was
only an oflcious and inpertinent attempt to
levy IL small black mail on me by demanding
as right, a compensation for an imaginary
service, instead Of asking an aims like
straight forward and honest beggar.
looked upon this attempt to make themselves
useful, in the Venetian beggars, as giving
responsibility to beggary here in Venice,
that had not before seen in Italy.
Although we had become somewhat iami-
liar with Venice, still, gliding about all day
in Gondola, in the hustle OF a large city,
and hearing no noise but the dip & the drip
of oIrs, the dash of the little waveets on
the walls, the low hum of voices in CONVEX
sation, with here and there the cry of a
waterman and now and then the sound of
the artisans tools, never ceased to be strik-
ing and beautiful, and when you took in at
one thought the whole thing sublime those
palaces and temples and towers rising out of
the water like a growth, the hoary old Tus-
can and Doric piles Of a thousand years ago,
and the more graceful and tlorid Corinthian
palaces of modern times interchangeable
planted and rooted in the sea Venice would
be an impossibility if it did not exist.
Sannazar of Naples, some 400 years ago,
expressed his admiration of her in these
beautiful lines.
"Viderat Adriacis Venetian Neptunus in undis
Stare urbem ct to deere jura mari
l nunc, Tarpeias quantumvis, Jupiter arces
Objice, ct lila tua moenia Marts, ait,
81 Iiberim pelago confers ,urbem aspce utramque
Ham homines dices, hanc posusse Dcos.'
As Neptune looked on Venice in her pride,
Seated in glory in the placid sea,
Giving her laws to every sea beside
"CUmc Jupiter" he said. 81 challenge thee
Bring hither Rome in all her PRIDE and
Her boosted Tibcr by the Oceans brine
Compare the cities and thou shalt agree
This queenly city. by the side of thine
That built by men-this by the Gods divine"
When Sannazar wrote, Austria was I'M
known, even as a monarchy, and Venice and
Rome could each stand up against the world
how, who does them reverence? The Eagle
of the lIapsburgs flaps its black shadows over
an immense Empire, and Rome and Venice
are permitted to trcmble in her presence.
Venice, as a State, has no existence and
Rome, as Il State, has no independence and
no power. When Manini, the last of the
Doges, was compelled to swear allegiance to
Austria the shock was too much for him, and
he fell to the ground. Yours.
F. c.
The CLOSE MAINE CONGRESSIONAL DIS
TRIcTs.--The Portland State of Maine, of
Monday refers to these districts as follows
| 1--WE saw the RETURNS from Montapue at An