Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-10-18
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The famous Bridge Of Sighs is narrow,
ornamental inclosed gallery much higher
than other bridges, connecting an upper
sto. ; Of the palace with the prison on the
side Of the narrow canal. Though one pas
sage the prisoner is passed over to his final
trial aud If he pa sed back again it was to
his doom. At one end Of this passage he
sat upon a chair, a rope being fastened
about his neck, which strangled him by
means of a turn of the chair, after which his
body was conveniently dropped through an
aperture at the other end of the passage,
down into the still waters below, and the
time and manner Of bis depaptur from this
I'te were not published in tie morning pa
pers.
Our first day in Venice finished by going
over the city in a gondola. Our gondolier
was the prince of his craft, a handsome.
curly haired broad-shouldered fellow, the
skiLdl sweep ofwhose cars sent cur Condo
Ia gliding with an even sWiftuess quite equal
to one fancy. OF all modes Of getting
about this is the most delicious; no jerking
orrockiug, but one continuous movement
measured BY the regular beat Of the soft
FLASHING oar. At every narrow turn the
oarsman sings out his signal to warn any
one from collision, aud using single car,
swings round and sweeps on as before. But
the palaces What better is a marble pal
ance than granite one ifitis black as iron,
which is true Of many Of those in Venice?
Begrimed by time, BY the action of the
salt sea air, it is almost impossible to con
c9iye how radiant they ever have been, ex-
cept where an occasional one seems to have
been furbished up, or a new, cleaning white
stone reset in an almost dead black wall
Yet, from an this grace. IL architecture, they
are beautiful 10 their grimness, and majes-
tic in their desertion. The eye never tires
Of the beautiful balconies, graceful columns
and arches, statues and Ornamental carving,
aud above an the half unreal and spirit-like,
lifting up from the waters edge Of these
ancient walls, in race and beauty worthy to
be POLITICALLY embalmed of Byron, and in
historical interest, the home Of Shakes
peara most wonderful characters.
But sur gondolier plies on, resting his oar
now aud then to sing out monotonousIy the
names OF the noted palaces We pass, many
Of which are familiar Many Of these walls
set straight down beneath the sea, with only
few steps at the doors where the foot
meets the gondola; others have c0lounades
throughout the whole length, the resting
payements descending to the water, and
where several such stand il succession, the
promenade looks not inconvenient as well
as charming. Before these are often a dou-
bic set Of gaily striped posts, set in water
for the use Of gondolas.
Here and there, rich and gay ycolored avn
ings, over windows and balconies, still
spread, OF loopod up for the night, add pic
mresqueness to the scene The shadows
fall and what is bad for romance, there is
no moonlight, and Venice is, apparently,
too poor for any other Here and there a
a lamp in ont of a palace door, throws a
solitary CLEAN across the canal, or from an
occasional bridge, a few signals mark the
way. 1t is deliciously cool, and the sum
mer stars loJk quietly down, as thy usually
do, but the walls make the shadows deeper
and We pass on through darkness and silence,
closing our FIRST day y venice at the steps Of
one brilliantly lighted and beautiful palace,
once the home of Doge, and now the
home Of the wandering stranger - Cor. Gin.
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