Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-31

each in the finest Italian Gothic style. We
think it the most beautiful building we ever
saw. 1t dates from 1884. AS stated in
former letter, it is near the Duomo or Ca
thedral, of which we took more minute sur
vey than before, aud found it well repaid, for
| of all the wealth of outside ornamentation in
| marble it certainly exces any building we
| ever dreamed Of, and its majestic dome is
said to really exceed that of st. Peters at
Rome in size.
Leaving Florence the next morning by rail
we reached Venice about . o'clock. The first
| half OF our journey was over the mountains and
! through not less than forty tunnels giving US
| some glimpses of some very fine scenery. The
last part was wonderfully in contrast, for it
through fertile plain as level as the
Illinois prairies, and the approaches to Venice
reminded us strongly of those of Chicago in a
wet season. We reach the city from the
main land by bridge or causeway about two
miles in length. The sensations which a
persons feels on entering this wonderful city
Tor the first time are those of entire novelty.
Here certainly is something exquisitly unique,
and TO be seen no where else in the world
ancient or modern. At the r. X. depot instead
OF taking an omnibus we take gondola and
are rowed by short but circutous route
to the Hotel Europe at the entrance of
the Grand Canal. Here the novelty of the
situation is kept up by the appearance upon
the landing steps of a colored man who looks
just though he had been shipped direct
from New York or Boston. But we after
wards learned that his father only was an
African. his mother an Italian and he born
in Milan lie is perfect gentleman in APP
pearance and manners, speaks English
French, Italian, German and Spanish huenty,
and is the manager of the hotel. He has
acted as guide though Europe for several dis
tinguished Americans, among them the Inflated
-. al,
to be no prejudice against colored man, for
he is on equal footing with those around him
lie informed us that they were nearly full,
because, as we afterwards learned, Donna
Isabella, cx.Queen of Spain aud her suite of
30 persons was stopping here) but he could
give us room on the upper floor, which he
said was favorte place and in the same
story with the dining room. We are tempted
strongly to use the American slang expression
"lIow is that for high?" i'll the attic of one of
the ancient Palaces of Venice overlooking the
Grand Canal.
Speaking of ancient palaces, nearly all the
hotels in Italian cities were formerly palaces.
To sleep and eat in such place certain
ly keeping up the oddly. Not that we had
never lived in an attic before, being ''born of
poor but honest parents" you know but to
be where the thing was considered in keep
ing with the elevation, ''high toned, that is
where it seems odd. After doing our best to
keep up With the place in the way Of des
patching something like bakers dozen of
courses at table d'hote, but failing somewhat for
want Of room inside, we took gondola and a
| ride on the Grand Canal, which winds like the
| oft quoted letter S through the city. On return
ing to the hotel, about an hour later, the moon
| was up, and seemed to cast q greenish light
over the city, such as you would view through
piece of dark green glass. The situation
and the hour were the essence of the roman
tic and poetic (though having got safely past
that age, we did not essay to become poet).
The moon was shining brightly, silvering the
beautiful city of Venice, which, as the poet
says, literally rises from out the wave.
Numerous gondola5 with their fair occupants
hoated past us, the gondolers in their white
uniforms, gliding like phantom shapes over
| the water. In front of the hotel we found
numerous illuminated gondolas, and large
number of Spaniards who were serenading
| the Ex. Queen Cat the Ex-Queen's expense).
The music, both instrumental and vocal, was
very fine, and fully equal to the chorus of any
opera company we had ever heard. All this
was novel; more novel, most novel, and had
it lasted much longer we don't know how we
should have expressed it or what would have
been our fate. But the best things must have
an end. About 10 o'clock not the lovely and
airy, but the gross and heavy, waddling form
a gondola with two or three of her children,
followed by about dozen of her retainers,
the party occupying three or four boats, and
| off started the whole flotilla down the Grand
| Canal. We were for following her Highness
in our light canoe, but our party were less
romantic than sleepy, so we contented our
selves with sitting up watching for the lovely
| CD Queen to RETURN which she did about
midnight, and upon landing held a sort of in
formal court in the hall of the hotel, which
ended in the cashier (perhaps the Ex-Finance
Minister of SPAIN giving handful of Italian
'greenbacks" to the master of ceremonies for
general distribution. The next evening her
Ex-August and Royal Highness left the city
in state, and on that tremendous occasion
your humble scribe, with two other humble
American citizens, meekly followed in her
wake as far as the railroad depot. AS she
passed out of the hotel, with smile (not
CROWN upon her brow, the inn-keeper in an
ecstacy of delight, rapturously taking her
dumpy hand, pressed it to his lips, bowling
low. We hope, and indeed we have no doubt,
he was well paid, for the Queen ought to be
liberal to others, seeing that she was liberal in
supplying herself with crown jewels and pub
lie funds when she fled from Spain. She
certainly must have heavy purse to support
herself and train in the princely way they
live. While in Paris, we saw her splendid
residence near the Arch of Triumph.
But enough of the Ex-Queen of Spain, and
something more of the Ex-Queen of the Sea,
over whom the next mornings daylight shed
its Disseminating beams.
CLAIMING.
POLITICAL.