The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-05-30
Seizure of the Brides of Venice.

As years rolled on, the continuance OF
peace gave the Venetians ample scope
for the encouragement and promotion
of the industrial arts. Their CONNER
cial relations with other countries were
rapidly developed. Every manufacture
was formed into a guild, the directors
of which framed laws for the observance
of the handicraftsmen. Several trades
were divided into branches, and each
| branch boosted of a guild. Thus,
among the glass-workers there were bot
tle-makers, bead-makers, artists in col
or, producers of window-glass, and or
namental glass-workers. One branch
was totally distinct from all others, and
| the utmost rivalry existed among the
men working in the several departments
The promotion of these guilds and their
annual professions, fostered that love
for public pageants and ceremonials
which distinguished the Venetians
above all other nations. At a very early
time certain events, which in other
countries were observed in private,
were celebrated at Venice in public,
with all the splendid surroundings the
taste and wealth of the nation were able
to produce. On the first of February
in each year the republic gave dowries
to twelve maidens upon their marriage,
and that day became the most highly
favored for marriage among the youth
full Venetians. In 932, on the appoint
ed day, when the gay and happy congre-
cations of lovers with their friends
were assembled at st. Marks, in the
presence of the doge, Candiano II. and
the chief rulers of the state, the mar
riage service was rudely interrupted by
violent knocking at the cathedral
door. In few moments, before the
mystery could be solved, the doors
were broken open, and large band of
men entered, armed to the teeth, whose
faces, FURNISHED from exposure to the
sun and sea, were at once recognized as
those of pirates who haunted the Gulf
of Istria. The pirates, swinging swords
or axes in their hands, advanced up the
church, while the terrified people shrank
away from them. They seized the
marriage dowries of the brides, and
then the terrified maidens were rudely
laid hold of and dragged from the en-
brace of lovers and friends. The air
was filled with the oaths of the pirates,
the cries of the terrified maidens, and
the execrations of the voung men. OPP
position to men armed like these sea-
rovers by those who were unarmed was
out of the question and the Istrians
succeeded in escaping to their boats
with their booty and prisoners. Imme-
diately upon getting clear of the crowd
ed church the young men procured arms
and sought for boats in which to give
chase to the robbers. The doge order
ed the great bell of the Campanile to
be rung, and the people on every island
flew to arms. In very short time the |
canals were covered with gondolas full |
of armed men, and, headed by the doge !
they set off in pursuit. The pirates, in |
their hurry, had mistaken the proper |
outlets, and before they reached the |
gulf were overtaken. Then followed n |
fierce encounter and, when the doge |
gave the signal for returning, not one |
pirate was left alive. The maidens and |
their dowries were brought back in
triumph, and the same evening the |
rudely-interrupted ceremony of the |
morning was recommended and com
pleted amid scene of general reioic-
ing. This event was for centuries af-
terward celebrated by an annual pro-
cession, and by games which LASTED for |
six days. Venice and the PenetidRs.