The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-06
FENCE - HER PECU,LL4RTPLES AND FADED
SPLENDOR---1 PAGEANT IN HONOR or TIE
PATRI1RCH &c
pnprtnrna. June IS. ISIS.


day of sober realities Is before Our collection OF
pictures is by completeVenioc. the most bean
tifu Of ALL is wanting This bright morning will leave
my study and accompanying you, will visit the Bride of
the Sea- We win find her as in the olden cs dressed in
her gayes garnens but like beauty who has outlivbd
her charms with rad smile upon her face
Many year has passed since her annual marriage
festival meanwhile her spouse has become nconstant,
has sought other favores and hcaped his gifts npon
them. Hsts
Venice in every respect unique, and produces pc
culiar impression The unending noise of carriages Is
never heard beast OF burden, except man. Is
From morning till night you sit in gondola and pass
succession of beautiful aiyke buildings mostly churches
and palaces, which you afterwards recall to mind
Dreams creations of imagination The spirit of io
nance dwes here and gives reality to the most boyish
dreams OF fairy land I'm the first place. You find the
gondolas exactly you expected black, and
graceful a When rowed by skilful gondoliers
they TO rest upon air rather than water ee
constrained their movements Then the palaces built
not after the modern rules with sharp angles and precise
mathematical lines but, would think, according
to the most extvagant poets fancy, than satisfy
your pteconccved idea of Venetian architecture. U
yersty is given to the by nnumerabe churchcs
with towers domes, and mnares like those of mosque
Water ia everywhere You cannot without seeing
it and it almost impossible to find your way through
the few narrow streets alleys you Obliged to have
gondoa at your command the itiost luxurious well
romantic conveyance. Venice rests In her agoons like
a bright jewel in emerald ground
We direct gondola towards the port, and the Lion
did of old the victorious sailors returning with eastern
spoils On the right and left beautiful buildings
among which the Dodges Palace with its long of
graceful arches its OF art its renowned PRISONS
and Bridge of Signs, of which the poets sing, is Most
conspicuous Here might remain long, entirely salts
fed not even hoping to find structure, built by human
hands, of sublmer more pleasing aspect. But we
attracted drawn by wonders until the entire
city possesses to our eyes and imagination and CHARM
which thought could exist only in fairy land
St Marks Palace is before Three sides occupied
by long, palace like buildings Beneath the arches may
be representations of nearly every nation. The
Greek and Turk with their Oriefsa costumes
king their long pipes Europeans foreigner, and Ven
tian ounging before the cafes the Frenchman with
his wine the German with his beer, and the English
man with his stout-laughng, chatting, and enjoy
ing the music Small bands of musicians playing
and singing to almiring crowds, and and then
fair songstrcss gathers rich harvest OF cesessimi
and krenzers--not for her singing, which is by no
means Objectionable, but for her pretty face, the
stranger opens his purse Children playing the
broad pavement ladies' gay dressed and fascinating
enliyen the crowd by smiles and pleasant words. We
may remain here until midnight, dreaming happy dreams
and gratifying every 81 Marks Place Is the heart
of Venice the centre Of life AT every pulsaon living
streams sent TO every part Of the great body Its
chief attraction Is St Marks church, which, account
OF its treasures IFS cuostes and its peculiar style Of
architecture is the most interesting building in Venice
1t is ornamcnted with spols from the East rich mosacs
cover its walls and various colored marble form the
pavement. Externally 1t resembles mosque than
place of worship for this plain unromantic age Gilded
domes and small mnarets crowded together covering
the entire church short columns Of every color and
rety of marble adorn the facade. The colos Of the
rainbow to have been suddenly scattered and each
to have found accidental place here. caprieous
child would choose such model for toynouse poet
must find in accordance with his fncy architect
admire it against his will and call beautiful that
which his mathematical mind cannot approve.
st. Mark has outved its age it carries one s
thoughts back to the time when fairy tales not
deemed unworthy of belief It to he attempt
to reconcile the political idea connected with the Mo-
hommedan religion with the stern Christian faith One
morning Venice from the OF her bridegroom
enjoy holiday. She drew her finest robe of pure
ether yariegaed by the colos of the rainbow and fairly
sparkled with gems in the morning light. 1t
nounced that Patriarch Of the Church would arrive
from Milan at noon and grand preparations made
to receive him The bells rang merrily, and the gay We
netan world appeared on the Grand Canal Gay -colored
hangngs of every hue waving from the palace win
dows balconies crowded with fair spectators and Condo
las hurying and fro with their precious freight Every
landing place from ST. Marks to Pontc Rato and the
railway station crowded At IL o. clock the Patri
arch arrived and accompanied byseyeral dgnitaes
conducted with much ceremony to his gondola, which
richly onamened with figures and hangings. The
boatmcn unable to for some time on
account of the crowd that pressed forward to see
important parsonage. The gondoas were wcdged to-
gether, forming bridge of boats the Grand
Canal After all had satisfied their curiosity the
entire moved slowly and solemnly on. The
his gondoa, and shouts of welcome rcsounded from pal
ace to palace greater rejoicing, louder ringing Of
bells would not have accompanied a triumphal march
IL seemed Venice had recovered her long lost power
and again proclaimed herself mistress of the band
of music stationed at Doges palace, and sent forth
the lyelest strains while the procession moved forward
towards St Marks palace The old flags waved there
In Vences proudcst days; the trophies decorated
st. Marks church IL was the Venice of older time
making final attempt to appear young and beautiful.
But her cheeks painted her ornaments not
pure gold but tnsel and the exertion which she made
convulsive and feeble. Venice is different from other
cities not only with respect to its situation and archi
lecture but also in its people, their and
toms The traveller is Immediately struck by their pccu-
liar mode of life, which gives them marked distinction
from the other Italians. No stirring events remark
able incidents interrupt the ordinary course Of things
except the periodical festivals which, however const
tutc part of, rather than exception to- their daily
life They exist it were in dream undisturbed BY
the noise and hustle of populous cities The almost in
audible sound of dipping in those placid waters Aud
the voice of love- the god that rules supreme accomba
nying them to their dreamland, have quieted the ere
unuly passions that rage in the human breast Tyrab
ny's strong hand checks ambition, and men prefer
enduring chains with peace and domestic happiness
to struggle against political oppression which leaves
them comparatively without restraint in their private
actions They prefer tyranny in politics To national free
DOM which may at any moment be followed by anarchy
Venice to be sure important seaport and commercial
depot but noisecssly unostenitiousy is all bus
conducted that is first inclined to believe
the contrary in the more pressing circumstances
TO be in state of ethargy from which moth
ing earthly could arouse them. Like somnambulists
rather than active, thinking men, they pursue business
MS well as pleasure. Mammon and love walk hand In