The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-29

their previously formed ideas were
wrong, and that Venice IS an entirely diff.
Gerent city from that which they expected
70 find. There Is no city in the world
which the tourist approaches with more
curiosity than he does Venice, and there
Is probably no city which the great un-
Travelled public moro generally desire an
opportunity to inspect We will therefore
during our present visit undertake the
rather difficult task ol endeavoring 10
make your readers see exactly what we
see, and to know Venice as II is, rather
than as they imagined II to be. In order
10 do this Il will be necessary TO compile
q brief sketch Of the history Of Venice,
and how it happened that this city in the
sea rose 10 such extent and Importance.
HISTORY OF VENICE.
When the Roman Empire was destroy.
ed in the sixth century, about twelve hun
dred years ago, by the barbarians. the In.
habitSntS OF Padorina Albino. and Aqui'
Ieis, on the Italian coast, calling them
selves Venltians, had their cities also de.
stroyed by the same hordes. The inhab'
ilanls OF these towns took refuge in the
islands OF the lagoOns on which Venice
now stands, and formed republic: They
soon commenced an active trade with the
East, and engaged extensively in CON-
merce. In the year 697 they felt the want
of a united government, and elected their
first Doge or President, Pauluccis Ana
Iesto. Il was not, however, until the year
Sl9 that Doge Angelo PSrtecipazio trans
ported the seat OF government from Mala.
mocco to Rialto, near the site OF the ia
nous Rlalto Bridge, and commenced 70
Join the little Islands by bridges, and thus
/ aid the foundation oI the present city. In
spite OF civil wars, the power of Venice In
the following centuries grew great, and
her greatness atoned for stern political
cruelties during the epoch Of the crusades.
In 1874, the Venitian Republic, under
Doge Henry DandOla, conquered Constan.
tin0ple, helped by the French crusaders,
which led 10 the division OF the Oriental
Empire, and gave 10 Venice the shores OF
the Adriatlc, AMI many islands, among
which was Gambia. During tho next
hundred years, the VGDitiaus kept up
bloody wars against tho Genocse, and 1t
was not until 1852 that they obtained n
complete triumph over their GcnOese ri
walls. During the twelve years preceding
1880, the Italians and Hungarians carried
on fierce war against Venice, ard 1t was
finally blockaded by the GenoCse, Tor a
whole year, when Venice was compelled
TO surrender uncondiLionally. When
peace was declared, Venice lost all her
possessions on the continent, after having
been compelled 10 yield Dalmatia to the
King of Hungary. In spite OF these dis
asters, Venice continued 10 war against
her oppressors for the next forty years,
and in 1881 reconquered the whole Dal'
matian coast, from PO 10 Corfu.
Towards the end Of the thirteenth CEN
fury the glory of Venice reached its ut
most height, and her population exceeded
200, 1000 souls. She was the centre OF the
commerce Of the world, and was admired
and respected by all Europe. Her fall
began in the sixteenth century by the dis
coYery of the new way to India by the
Cane Of Good Hope, when nearly all her
commerce passed into the hands oI the
Portuguese. She continued steadily 10 de-
cline, until she received her greatest blow
from the ascendency the Turks obtained
in Europe and Asia, and between the
years 1868 and 1910 lost all her posses
sions. ...-.-.
ance In history. She remained neutral In
the great wars which succeeded, and her
power became less and less, At the be-
ginning of the French revolution she op-
posed The opinions Of the socialists, but
when the French were victorious in their
wars, Venice tried to maintain q neutral
position, declining the alliance Of Bona
parte. This irritated him, and he broke
The negotiations and occupied the city on
the 16Ih OF May, 1907. Under the French
Government the city became poorer and
poorer, and the Venilian population was
reduced 10 10000 souls. In subsequent
wars Venice was given to Austria, and
then 10 Italy, and finally, in 1914, passed
again to Austria.
In 1S4S Venice revolted from the Aus.
trians, and proclaimed republic, but
after heroic defense and asiege oi iineen
months, suffering famine and all the other
misiortupes Of q siege, with the ravages
Of cholera In It's most malignant form, she
was compelled TO capltulate again to the
Austrians. The war Of 1850, broken by
the peace Of Villnfranca, left Venice TO
the AusLrisns, but The one Of 1856 gave
her 10 the kingdom Of Italy, In conse-
qucnce Of the united votes Of the people,
which took place in October Of the same
year. The city Is again prospering under
The Italian Government, and the people
appear TO be happy. Perfect religions
freedom Is enjoyed, and Venice hopes TO
40 on improving and prospering under
the arts oil peace, r4f d.
THE 1sIANDs AsD CANALS. Z
Before proceeding further it will be
necessary 10 convey 10 the reader some
idea OF the character oil the territory upon
which Venice Is built. In the first place
il must be borne In mind that tho city Is
built upon one hundred and fourteen
little islands, the streams coming between
them, with the exception Of the Grand
Canals, being never more than twenty
feet ID Width. The 'tlde from the BeaFises
and falls, and flows through these canals,
which are To the number. Of three hun.
dred and forty.one, keeping the water
always pure and healthy. Indeed many
OF me lateral canals are scarcely more
than twelve feet in width. Out OF these
canals the houses all rise precipitately,
and their principal front and entrance
always faces the canal, visitors stepping
right from the boat onto tho door sill.
The houses Of Venice have no yards, sido
alleys, or any vacant ground connected
with them. One end Of them is on q ca
nal and the other end on narrow lane,
or perhaps backed up solid against q
neighboFs house. The city Is finished" /"
because there IS no room lett large
enough to erect q lime,shed, except on
the distant outlying islands, It Is com.
pact and solid with the exception oi some
small squares or court.yards left near the
churches,