The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-09-26


their shoulders. On the backs Of their
heads are coiled, like shining ropes ofsilks,
those long tresses Of beautiful golden hair
50 beloved by the Venetian painter. Old
women, attired in their national bantes,
hurry along to be in time for the mass,
whose last bells are ringing out at st.
Noise hard by. A small detachment Of
soldiers make the old bridge resound under
their regular tread as they march over,
carrying up the caserne the wood destined
to boil the days allowance Of soup. The
Illustrissimi, ruined mobiles Of ancient fam
lily, bearing still a princely air beneath
their worn but well-made clothes, saunter
along to the Cafe Florian, the rendezvous
of the aristOcracy, TO chat over that excel
lent coffee whose recipe Constantinopls
has impaired to Venice, and which can
nowhere be tasted in greater perfection.
Elsewhere these poor antiquatod appari-
tions Of time gone by would excite smile;
but the Venetians love their ancient no
bility, who did 80 much for them in their
days Of prosperity, and fought SO hard for
the people on whose charity they are now
almost dependent.
Nothing is done in an ordinary way in
this fantastic old city; even the street
music, which in all other places under the
sun is either carried on the backs Of the
performers or on some vehicle, here rides
along in gondola. One is now passing
beneath the balcony, and il happcps to be
one Of those large nondescript machines
that are made at Cremona. On hearing
this admirably arranged piece Of mechan-
ism one can only compare il to moving
orchestra of firstrate musicians, so beauti-
fully and perfectly does every one Of its
various instruments perform its part; and
more than one gondola turns from It's route
to enjoy little longer this beautiful mel
ody, while the musical barge slowly pur-
sues its way, followed by quite a feet Of
admiring listeners.
Another craft now appears in sight, to
whose side is fastened huge bluish-look-
ing monster, which plunges and founders
in the water, lashing it into foam in its
frantic efforts to escape. They are fisher.
men, who are exhibiting dolphin which
they have caught in their nets, and who
are holding out their caps to the windows
and passing gondolas to beg for money.
Strong ropes cleverly arranged support the
animal, half in and half out Of the water,
so that he may be the more easily seen as
they drag him along, aud the people crowd
to the windows to witness the exhibition,
Now let US cast 4 glance toward the
campo, for there the picture Is not less
animated than the preceding one The
fritter merchant at the foot of the bridge
has opened his stall his stoves arc already
in full activity, and dispensing in thesair
a rather unsavory smell OF smoke and boil
Ing oil. Frios of all sorts hold great
place in Italian food, Cor moderation IL q
virtue Of the southern countries, which
accords well with the laziness Of their in
habitants. But little cooking is done in
the houses, their inmates far preferring to
send to the nearest frying shop for their
simple meal of pancakes, fried fish, etc.,
which others even less particular are con-
tent to eat on the spot. The yenders Of
pumpkins and melons, Of which the Vene-
tiaDs are most especially fond, display their
merchandise in huge piles, resembling
masses Of yellow wax, and which they sell
in slices of various dimensions. A young
girl at an opposite window lowers basket
attached to cord, in which the merchant
places a piece Of melon proportionate to
the sum which she has let down for il !;
and this convenient and original manner
of marketing agrees cxcellently, as one can
imagine, with Venetian Incidence.
In the middle Of the compo group Of
people are surrounding an aged, tattered
couple, accompanied by thin, shaggy
haired dog, whose intelligent looks show
that he has been trained to many trick
he keeps his eyes riveted upon his master
rs though awaiting some command. At
last the old man makes sign, and the dog
instantly springs upon basket which
stands before him, opens the cover with
his nose, and pulls out a slip Of paper,
which he lays down at tho feet Of bis mis-
tress. He repeats this performance sew.
eral times, while the crowd fght and
struggle for the ticket he brings out The
dog is drawing numbers Of the lottery, and
those which he produces under certain
conditions must infalliblygain. Gamblers
swarm at Venice, the same IS In every
other unfortunate country where the hope
Of a sudden fortune gained without labor
works powerfully on the Imagination, and
these poor deluded creatures place the
most absurd confidence in the lucky num-
bers drawn in this manner BY dog. In
seeing the wretched misery cf this couple
and their more than haIfstaryed dog, one
wonders how Il is that they, too, cannot
participate in the good luck which they
are distributing 50 literally to those around
them for few coppen. Il may be that
those who divide the winning numbers are
like the sorcerers who Are unable to fore
see the future for themselves, aud who,
though clear-sighted for others, become
blind when their own persons are CON
cerned.
W /. 4.