New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-07-30


with leader. The harness the oddes: Of al c,asri-
vances and with donkey himself and the carl, dehes
all characteristics description. Between the ears u an
ornamental little ssep with feathers or rocetsss Of
rags, and bell or two. Them about the shoulders, s
bame collar, stuffed with straw, about ak inches
thick, terminating at the top in leatbercovered cone
about fifteen inches high and about six inches III diam
eter at the base About this necklace Of small bells
Then comes mp the wooden hame-astened at the base
Of ths cone where, with rs, 1t termnatee-but IN md
die France It sOpe not there but both sidee Of the
cone starts of again at angle of about forty-hve de-
grees with the aka Of the cone, and in q regular
curve, branches OF eighteen twenty inches, ike
pair Of long, slender HORNE and the ends are rings
through which the rens before going to the bits
Then the cart is loaded all il will bear above the axe
tree and felow between the Wheels TO near grouno
Each particular animal has about AZ many heads ana
horns the beast in the pocalypse whole thing
together might be worshiped by one dolstrousy IN
chned as the only thing which has NO likeness TO any
thing IN the heavens above, or earth beneath or the
waters under the EARTH In the larger and more cvi
lied towns, the lower elsssee, the common people mo
their longeared servant very useful under his httIe
saddle before his little ear to trot nimbly along on
the rural drives and excursions and little air1ngs
which the numerous holidays make available.
The bit of Venice which we copy, compares ia
vorably with the descriptions of other tourists.
THE VENETIAN GONDOLAs.
We spent day In gondola on the canals that we
might fully realize the characteristic travel ana sreet
scenery Of such city. gondola is long, ol.ck,
narrow, slender, and light boat with high bow and
stern. 1t IL about thirty feet long and four feet WIDE
in the middle whence it tapers 70 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 sort Of broadax blade above
which gives to the approaching bow quite Q bloody.
minded look. The bow is plainly bastard descendant
of the Prov of the ancient Koran galley. About md
way Of the boat-a little nearer the stern-n me
cushioned seated and curtaned cabin for the
gers This looks some like the body Of an old-ash-
Toned coach, and moro like modern funerai-hearse,
the whole thing-boat canopy, seats curtains, snd
ail-teng of dead black color The gondola, 10 FORM
snd color, and appointments, believe has not changed
for cenuries-except that in few instances are seen
coored curtains and trimmings to the little cabin On
fesal occasions, too, believe, they deck them some,
times with much elegance, giving to the Grand Canai
an appearance of great variety and iveliness. 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 his
torian-Philipe de Comines--says that In his time,
three LuDdred and fifty years ago. there were thirty
thousand. that be half true, the canals must have
been crowded like Broadway on public day; The
gondoGer stands erect in the stern Of his gondoa ana
with single oar, which he uses as paddle, manages
his boat with great adroitness. There are no SAILS OF
course.
The gondolers parake something of the character OF
their boats and their employment gentle, giid
ing and graceful in their manner-they are tasteful and
sometimes faneiful In their dressn this respect Differ
ing from the race of drivers and coachmen, every
where proverbialy coarse, ungraceful, and raseess
never heard from gondolier anything but words OF
gentleness and poltenees, 30 far rs manner was con-
cerned, even TO his companions and fellows whom ne
passed he Hoated along. They exercise much care
and attention. too, in landing their passengers win
safety. The ebb and flow of the tide keep always wet
and sometimes slippery the agstones upon which the
passengers are TO step ashore and unless the 20
properly brought aOng-de the STEP and kept ano
unless the passenger wait till the proper time, and step
with care, he may get dangerous rail- Lord Byron
was once thus slipped into the Grand Canal between
the gondola and the shore to his great chagrn and
notification.
poor beggar quietly stationed there and always offer
ing his aid to secure yoH safe and easy landing for
which, of course be expects q small gratufy shaii
always remember, with regret, repulsng me wen
meant offers of assistance OF old mendicant on such
an occasion, before knew the custom, supposng his
offer was only an of8cous and impairment attempt TO
levy small black mail on me by demanding as night
compensation for an imaginary service instead OF
asking an aims like straightforward and honest peg
gar. i looked upon this attempt TO make themselves
useful in the Venetian beggars as giving respecta'
blity to beggary in Venice that had not before seen
in Italy. ., ~,
Although we had become somewhat familiar with
Venice still gliding about all day in gondoa, in the
heart of large city, and hearing NO noise but the 0p
and the drip Of oars the dash of the little wavelets on
the walls the low hum of voices In conversation VIII
here and there the cry OF waterman sha noT :, sh h
striking and beautiful, and when we took IN at one
thought, the whole thing, it was sublime-those pal
aces and temples and towers, rising ous OF the water
like growth the hoary old Tuscan and Dorc piles OF
thousand years ago. and the graceful and forid Cor
inthiaD palaces of more modern times intercnangeaDy
planted and rooted in the sea! Venice would DO sn
impossibiity if it did not exist.
The following remarks, called forth by visit to
Oxford, present an intelligent view of the subject:
ENGLISH UNIVERSITIES.
have sometimes thought that the Englsh Universe
ties could hardly with proprety be considered as
versites, in comparison with the Coniinental
ses | think differently now. For the Engiish peo'
ple-Englsh institutions habits and modes Of thought
being conGdered-they seem TO DO as near Periect ~
possible 1t seems TO me, that their oPeraon sno eI
feet being to bring together large numbers OF students
who have been fitted TO enter one Of the colleges and
of course have large amount OF knowledge and OF
cultivation in higher learning sll OF whom are 70 20
the round Of university life together reading Wnin
the College walls and all antly subject 70 the M
fuenees which must pervade such seat Of learning,
and which must strike into even the least susceptoe
all must inevitably take in, by mere absorption al
amount of cultivation, of the greatest yalse 70 them
and 10 the society in which they are TO be cast ana
yery large number will make the most Of all the fscil'
tiles for learning and become really 30 learned ana ao
complbed confer lasting honor on the UniverSty
and The country. There never was nation whose IN
stutions were more admirably framed to accomplish
their characteristic purpose and perpetuate themselves
than the English nation-that purpose the eeSatne
the few above the many, and then fortying them IN
their elevation. Such is the character and tendency OF
her UnveIst All study as much as they please,
and no more-there is calling 70 account Tor ide,
ness and there are no Rotations Every one Juoeeo
by his examinations-both by his extemPors written
answers 10 written questions, and afterwrd by stpa
pooe examinations. The teacher is not mere hesrer
of recstions lecturer but he is an instructor,
teacher an aid No one can attain the posiuon ana
boDors of high excellence but by course OF the most
laborous study and that too, aided by the private
teacher who in corresponds with the tutor
our institutions is the private hired assistant OF the
sbAen-be ia an accomplished and learned man II the
courses of the Universy-he sits by the side OF the