The New York herald., 1875-08-24
v e N l @ E.
The Famous Annual Regatta in the
City Of GondolaS.
SPLENDORS OF THE EVENT.
italian Gossip, Political and
General.
VENICE. August s. 1875.

their predictions long they foretold storm and
rain tempests and alternate sirocco and wntry cold,
but when they promised fair weather or, at most,
'few showers during the first half of August" they
blundered a way that their most creduous followers
will not easily forgive Rainl rainl rain everywhere,
day and night; here rendering baths impossible,
terra y1na rotting and blackening the hemp on the
ground hndering the threshing of the reaped corn,
either by hand-tu machinery by steam; causing
the grapes to shrivel burst midewng the corncobs
Of the maize that promised so fairly month since.
And the rain dmmed though it did really spoil, tho
splendors of the Venetian regatta that exciting of
water stes and ''beautiful exceedingly" Here you
the regatta IN its birthplace the very Venetian
par sGng for the wise old rulers order to breed and
educate a OF stalwart Mariners used to keep
boats and thirty forty cared bargcs at the
Piazzeta holidays the challenges to and from the
Lido were frequent and exciting The barges were
placed in line for starting- e. in riga regd hence
the word "regatta," When the rival felt them
selves pretty Of their they naturally sought
to display it their citizensa and lady love, and day
apart and the Of the gondolas and
of the gondolies took much interest in the
did the rowers themselves. Then prizes given
day The first prize red ag the second blue
the third green the fourth yellow with sucking pig
to boot No chronicer records the origin of this prosaic
but much coveted addition. With the flags dis
glory was the prize and then the flags depos
tied the keeping of 'Lady of Salvation, the Con-
doers own Madonna" and the church erected to her
is the most fascinating barocco imaginable reminding
one of a vessel with her sails unfurled and
spread. Little is changed at tho present day. While
THE VENETIAN PATRcIANs,
by dnt Of constant ntermarrages and their perpetual
living shut in between four walls have degenerated
a race they sma of stature, limp in muscle, thin
Tipped and sallow" do look If they could enjoy
revel or stand fght seem in Short spectral de-
scendants of Yeronese mobiles at elegant and stall
wart Representations of grace and strength But the
gondoer who lives and works in the open air continu-
ally tall and muscular, with fair horid open
nance, never uncivl in his manners, rarely servile
honest and anectlonatc, too loquacous, but, tho
whole pleasant to deal with boaman or house
want And the grand canal on the day ofthe regatta
presents the spectacle as Of yore. Every boat
barge that is available is moored against the houses
fitted out with SOFAS chairs panks decorated with
flags Beyond the Rialto and the railway station
the poorer populations take their stand Every inch OF
quay square bordering the canal
is crowded, while all the gondolas, pri-
vate and public, float the canal
till the police appear to clear the space
for the Banners and tapestry, quaint old bro
cades and silk and satin hangngs decorate the balconies
and terraces of the palaces where the fair Venetans
cluster TO enjoy the spectacle First come the 6iSsone
twelve in all, hung round with gay festoons with silk
cushions the Prov where the directors Of
the regatta sit under their canopes of gauze and silver
manned by eight oarsnen who wear the coors of the
respective bSS0nd Later the patrcan gondolas appear
on the scene covered with the hearse like felsd
but decked with the standards and colors of their
owners Opposite the municipal palace the Arabic
Loredan, perfectly restored, a canoped platform is
erected for the Mayor and notabiles, who distribute
the prizes, and another for the band
A shot fred is
THE SIGNAL FOR THE RACES
to commence If you have sharp gondoliers you may
follow the little boats which are miniature gondolas,
but seat. on the Riato central balcony Is prefer
able The START there Is to be popular
favorite whom the chief bets are made-very nno-
cent ones-a dinner, supper boccta OF wne to
be eaten and drank in company, the loser TO pay
the scot. The toy boats flashed on, the 6tssone or
"great snakes on either side and behind to prevent
the gondolas from crowding. The race Is four miles
the foremost boat shoots from under the arched bow
of the Rao it loudly cheered by the populace even
the fourth with the pig in prospective, Is as loudly
hssed Up TO the railway station then there is the di
cult turn in which moro capsized; then back
through the Rialto and sudden halt before the grand
stand round which the spectators gathered in
gondoas boats and barges so that you can cross thu
canal on their heads with care. This year Zatta the
public favorite, came in second and the prizes ran
thus
Maddaena and Mernmo fred nag). .............. 35oE
Zatta and Bou (blue lag) g)................-. 250f
Corral and Banato green agl 20of
Francischi and Doga yellow hag, sucking pig and lOOr
RACE
The instant the prizes distributed the spectators
noble and simple made for their gondoas boats oarges
and dinges, and parade the canal, from end to end,
bands the biSsone, the pidAGs and the barges.
Altogether, if want to regatta in its element you
go TO the palace bordered channel of the Venetian
lagunes.
The Catholic ceremonies have been many and splendid
during the past week-that Of St Ignatius in his own
church and in the Jesu while the OConnell Centenary
celebrated in the Church Of ST. Agatha, to which he
bequeathed his heart attracted other' than Catholic
admirers Of the great agtator For, If the truth be
told the movng English hating rishman is re-
garded by Italians as revolutonist rather than as
saint and they rather surprised 10 lind him claimed
by the faithful as their every own" The members OF
the Directing Council of the 'Society Of Catholic
Italian Youth" have addressed letter to the Lord
Mayor of Dublin pledging their members to illegal agi
taton for the separation OF the cause oil country rom
cause of and of the Church" while the Bolognesa
branch Of the same society has founded an "OConnen
league for liberty OF instruction in Italy,"
The directors of the Society Of Catholic Trustees pre-
scnted silver chace and six torches tho Basilica
Iberana the day Of our "Iady OF the Snow" with
the following Inscription :-'Marid Virgo Dei Mater
81. Qaad Benz De re Deque. TuO CuItu Roma.
4e7a 81 TiS5 D'''cs Est coz & 4" t.t. Aed,"" P,!n.
A1er OPEN Ronsae 81 Pho IL. p. NJ ". E1.
His MaGs Emeroant lSoeietas Ronana Princeps
Rel CdthoItea> ProueheylddS NoTIis SerstiblS AnNo
Sacro MDCCCLxXv"
STRENGTH OF THE CHURCH IN ITALY
Between the FdnfLtLd organ OF the Court and the
Catholic organs, statistical battle RACES The Fun
Jia depores tho existence in Italy Of e5 65l priests,
3424 semnarists H. o55 monks $4,000 nuns s,S7o sa-
crstans To which list the OSservatore Romano op-
poses as unted Itay's trophies" As 900 prisoners
trial. 49, 49o condemned, 1890 galley slaves III 600
prostitutes 300 900 basards. Truly, comparisons are
odious But while in Rome itself Catholics and non
Catholics thus sSrmish II Is curious how little atten-
paid the northern provinces TO affairs regard
! ing tho Vatican. Here is the solo
ITALIAN
The best informed commercial paper in Italy iniorm
MS that 'today the Pope holds his consisory and VIII
proclaim the i've cardinals hitherto kept in pectore that
Dupanloup will be and tho Bishop OF New YORK
anotberb II Is possible but by certain, that
Mgr Dupanoup will be elevated TO that honor, and
your Cardinal McCoskey Will receive the nat and ring
nom tbe pones own hand II is also believed that ~
Roncctti win be nominated Apostolic Delegate for
American republics
The negotiations between kussla anu 'he vatican are
suspended, but not broken OIL
The popes health continues to improve, and the
baths are suspended by medical orders His Holiness
vas daily audiences and is much touched by the dem
nstraIions Of affection and devotion manifested by the
pilgrims.
banouets lraerniZes with the Freenasons let
ers on the popular election of parish priests and has
given up all idea Of returning to Caprera for tho
present