The New York herald., 1870-02-02
VENICE AND THE vENlTIANs.
Lecture by Rev. DR.. Clarke.

Lecture by Rev. DIR. Clarke.
An eloquent and truthful lecture was delivered
last evening Dy Dr. Clarke on 'Vence and the vene-
uans" in the Alexandria church, corner or
Eighteenth street and Seventh avenue.
speaking Of his Impressions In Venice he said
Where the people Of vences Are they all asleep,
Whence come the loud shouts OF the gondolier,
Yes there 1t ls, q beautiful gliding structure. We
get into 1t and sail down, gazing into gloomy but
magnificent architectural edidces Soon after we
popped into notel and traversed corridors walked
over by noble patricians and alive with
works OF art centuries ago. As the lecturer
and his companion went through their motel
a lovely Italian girl carried along the
halls pan OF Goals on which she burned incense.
They thought 1t was meant Tor SUCH but found It
was INTENDED to kill the insects. The eternal sound
OF bells annoyed them. Their landlord told them
that all the religion OF Venice consisted In one ring
and harmony OF bells, and they Ielt inclined to be-
OF the architectural features of Venice, like an
Intelligent traveller, Dr. Clarke spoke In terms or
the highest admiration The city OF gold and OF doges
he graphically described first built upon grassy
but boggy lagoon almost floating upon the water.
Those VINO founded 1t had necessity for their inspra
tion Attila and his ''amiaDe" followers had drawn
intelligence and commerce to this island city. For
tune talent, art Of every kind particularly paint
ing ana sculpture, sought this amphbious city and
found in 1t q home. But all classes came. Rich and
poor were welded together and formed the solid ana
which the sun ever shone The finest qualities OF
these many gifted people were cemented by hard
ship, by that trtbulatOn which, according to indubt
table authority, alone gives understanding.
The lecturer here traced In simple but genuine
eloquence the growth OF the Venetian republic. The
glowing fire Of democratic patriotism ana the quar-
rels 1t engendered with the arlstOcracy OF wealth
and political power he described In few sentences,
as picturesque as they were true. Then passing on
TO the Crusades, Venice shone out gorl0usy AZ at
once the grand pioneer Of civilization In the drec
tOn OF the East, and at the same time the natural
centre OF the chivary OF Europe the movement to
crush at the same tme the insolent Saracen spirit
and the righteousness OF the mere Turk.
Venice mad been light TO Europe. She had been
nursing mother to poets patriots aud artists; shc
was the mistress OF the seas; she encouraged litera
ture and philosophy. Beauty was a charm--a
miracle In the queeny CITY, What, then, Ted TO her
decline and fall Luxury and efiemnacy. The Efforts
Of Marco Paul0, scanger, COumDus. Tass0 Paul,
Veronese ana the great Canova nave oil been given
to the glory or Venice; but romantic as maid,
this magnificent city yearly celebrated its espOusas
with the sea and went mad In Its revery but
neglected the permanent fruits aud truths OF art,
literature, science aud commerce. And thus did
Venice the beautiful SINK down TO the level OF ffth
rate city, glorious In nothing but IN the splendid
IG n a