The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-24
Meeting oil the M0narchs at Venice.

MeauK.
Meeting Of the Monarchs at Venice.
A Venice correspondent of the N. Y.
Herald thus describes the recent meet
ing of Emperor Francis Joseph and
king Victor Emmanuel at Venice and
tneir trip to the royal palace by Condo
las:
Victor Emmanuel could scarcely con-
ceal his nervous emotions. His enOr-
NOUS moustache curled clear up to his
eyes, and his eyes sought resting place
somewhere among the raiters OF the
depot. With uncovered head, dressed
in the national uniform, he awaited his
guest. The train, drawn by a tas.efully
Ragged locomotive, came slowly in, and
Francis Joseph eagerly descended the
steps of his carriage before the oars had
stopped, and, hat in hand, FASTENED,
smiling all over his face, to greet his
royal most.
The salutations of the monarchs were
most cordial: they kissed each other
warmly on the cheek and stood for a
iew moments with hands clasped, talk
ing eagerly, while the band played the
beautiful air of the Austrian national
hymn.
1t was a pleasant scene, this cordial
greeting of the two monarchs, formerly
deadly enemies, the ylctor and detea ter
Ol 1856. A great contrast, these two
historical figures - Francis Joseph,
blond, slightly built, clad in his gray
uniform, and rejoicing in the sunnIest,
most joyful mood; Victor Emmanuel,
short, thick, ungainly, with his great,
huge features, but from which beamed q
spirit OF warmth and pleasure and
Al do hoi.
very ugliness. Emmanuel then pre-
sented his sons to bis guest and the
Two mUnarchs walked arm in arm, chat
ting and smiling, down the long platform
out OH the open space in front Of the de-
DOT, where they were received by the
The cheers of thousands OF people who
had gathered on the river, in the Condo
las.
-Four royal gondolas cleared the way !;
following closely behind them were seen
advancing in state The hign gilded bows
of the municipal barges or bissone,
which formed The special escort oil
honor. Twelve Of these long barges of
different colors, each propelled by eight
oarsmen dressed i'll costumes i'll har-
mony with the decoration, formed a cir
Gle Of. honor about the royal gondOla
which bore the, two monarchs. This
group OF barges swept swiftly past like
a suining phantom; the water splashed
musically, the tipsel decorations rust
eled in the wind, ana from the daz-
zling confusionot sparkling ornamental
LiOn, rich dresses, clouds OF banners and
ranks OF painted oars rising and falling
in quick measure, ~ Was ditticut to sep
arate the modest black gondala, the
nucleus Of the galaxy, where tue green
plume and the white waved side by side.
Inis boat was decorated SIMPLY, but
with exquisite taste.
On each side on the gunwale were
blue velvet cushions, with edglngs of rich
Venetian glass and silken guards held
up by silver sea horses. The seat and
interior, as we'll as IL large cushion be-
hind the royal personages supporting
The gilded crown, WAS covered with fine
blue velvet. Saver figures, beautifully
modelled, supported the BACK OF the seat,
and the tour oarsnlen were costumed i'll
jachets OF blue velvet and breeches Of
red plush. The decorations OF the mu-
mcipal bissone We're too varied and too
complex 10 admit oil complete descrip-
ton, but sketch of u few of the most
prominent will give an idea of the
whole. All were long, low and narrow,
with bow and stern rising to height OF
eight or ten teet. A fantastic awning in
front covered u rich couch. on which re-
posed one OF the municipal authorities
with speaking trumpet; on The raised
stern stoud tue steersman with his oar.
One OF the finest barges was painted
delicate blue, marked out with silver,
and The oarsman wore blue, slashed with
white. The stern rose in graceful scroll
work, and tue PROV bore various devices
and a serraJed horn, above which
perched large butterfly, with body OF
silver and wings Of painted gauze. Trop-
zeal leaves, with delicate stems and Sill
yer frlnges, formed tine-shaped awning
behind, which shaded the official couch.
FestoOns OF blue stuff were hung along
the sides, looped up with si.vered orna-
ments, and u long train OF the same col
ored cloth swept the water behind.
Another barge was purple, with cos
tunes OF oarsmen to match, and with
a gilded sphinx on the pr0w.. Still anoth-
er was green and red, with awnings of
gauze; another of delicate lilac hue and
y elbow green, magenta and orange, CON-
bIned III various ways, distinguished the
rest. The IL ost striking oil all, however,
was a long barge, with graceful sweep
Of the lines, all sllvered from bow to
stern, and resting on the water like the
shining leaf OF q SILVER poplar. The bow
was covered with forid decorations. all
in silver, surmounted by a great winged
dragon, and the stern, from which hung
y long train OF gauze, was delicately
carved and graceful irregular scroll.
The boatmen wore complete suits OF sill
yer cloth, with sleeves of blue veivet.
Many royal gondoias, with the princes
and ministers, followed in the train OF
This flashing pageant, and the barges OF
private societies, with ~oarsmen in me-
ii@val costume, fianked the royal fleet.
Behind hurried the multitude Of official
boats, the consular gondolas and tnou-
sands Of private craft OF every descrlp-
Jon, formlns a train Of over q mile In
ength.