The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-08-19
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THE ISLAND OF SACRIFICE
Er MADAME LIE VERT.

FROM iadua we continued our journey
onward TO Venice. The railway passes
through a wc!! cultivated country, cmlcl
''Shed with villas OF the nobility, haIfhid.
den amid large trees. Along tho green
fields were lines of crimson poppies and
'':nc lakes, rs ii "crc, Of some azurc.Luci
flower.
The grapc-vincs were not trained upon
arbors of trciiscs, but permitted to climb
the trees, from which they hung in graceful
!c>;oons. For miles and miles the country
WAS planted with trees and vines, linked to-
get'icr They reminded us Of some of the
dances Of the Nicnnoisc children, when they
advanced up the stage, bound together bv
wrea'hs OF green, and all moving as by one
impulse. Thus, when the wind touched the
long, waving limbs, they seemed to advance
towards us, as though impclIeI by music.
1t was beautiful afternoon when we
| crossed the vladuct, two miles in length
which connects the mainland with Nenice.
Midway Is small island, which may be-
justly called "The Island Of SacriGce." Il
was there The Nenctians bravely repeIIed,.
the Austrians for long and weary mouths
An Italian who was our caml,ngnoM de voy-
aye, related TO us many touching incidents
| OF those terrible days of siege, sorrow and
suffering. The records Of history have new
er chrnhlcled noblcf sacrifices of human life
ior the love Of country. Within the CITY, it
was well known the defenders Of that little
| Island were doomed to almost certain death.
Still the very flower Of the Venetian no.
bility volunteered each morning for The
Pcrlous post, and each night brought
weeping and waiing' to the once happy
homes, now desolated and darkencd by the
tidings of their death. Their places were
quickly supplied by Others equally as brave,
and thus wore on the gloomy months until
they numbered eighteen. Although famine
prevailed i'll the city, there was no thought
of yielding. But the cholera comes as the
ally Of the Austrans, and then the s.sea-cirt
city succumbed to their united power.
All was there not n clear evidence in this
long ana fearful struggle of that same noble
spirit which animated the Venetians in the
glorious days of the republic when her
ships were on all the seas, and the name of
Venice was never mentioned save with the
words "great and rich" proceeding it.
Sadly we gazed upon that Island of Sac
rifice, as though it were holy altar made
sacrsd by the blood Of martyrs gushing
FROM young and Ioya! hearts. Like a dark
cloud over the brightness of European
powers, must ever lingor the bitter certain.
ty, that calmly they looked on and saw the
spirit Of freedom crushed and txs,npled
down by the remorseless Austrians. Fividly
to my memory came those lines of fByroD:--
''Tby lot
Is shameful to the nations; most of all,
Albion, to thee The'oo queen should not
Abandon oceans children."-
-.-e--s s''--
"T am going to writea book on popular
ignorance" said conceited young man to
DR.. D., IT know, ofno.. one" said
the Doctor, smore competent to prepare
sneIr work. ~ @er'" II
- asam' had You got sister," ~s..<
ayes, sir" 1 ''' ' >-+
,.aWell, den, you must lub, and cherish
beIs9 - .asr sS'i Z ~. = ....~,