Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-18
A Washington Lady i'm Venice.

husband, gentleman prominently known
in public lie and in social and literary cir
cles, IS now travelling in Europe:
FLORENCE, November ., 1875.
DfGT LG1Td- What happy star led us to
Venice! our first impressions, however,
were little gloomy. as we left the railway
station 10 take our seats in a black covered
cordoba; moreover. IL was raining. and this
rather dispelled our poetical idea of roman
tic Venice.
When you come TO Italy be sure to choose
bright sunny day TO enter Venice; rather
remain over on the route and visit with the
1.-TWO gentlemen OF Verona the Arena or
Amphitheatre in that old city a second time.
Some of our party were surprised TO find
such complete and well preserved amphi-
theatre in Verona, but we were more inter-
ested in Juliet's tomb and garden, which are
pointed out TO strangers as the home and
resting place of one of Shakespeare's noted
heToines- Although we know Shakespeare
was never in Italy, 10 one could describe the
street scenes OF the cities OfItaly better than
ne has done; Verona Is only few hours
Venice. and our gondola slowly piled its way
up the Grand canal, which Is bOrdered on
either side by dingy palaces OF the pointed
style of the fifteenth and sixteenth cantu-
ries. One OF the renaissance structure was
erected by Aless FittOria, a pupil of Sanso-
vino. This one, and another on this part of
the Grand Canal, with its rich architecture
are favor1te subjects with artists. Most OF
these richly cerniced buildings are now
used for public offices
AT the extremity of this canal is the beau
tlful st. Maria della Salute, a spacious
QOHic-CONereu erected by LOughona
I'm 1881. The exterior is finely ornamental
with statues; the interior contains paintings
by Titian-his st. Mark and four saints;
Presen tatiOn To the Temple, by Luca Gior-
dsno; Marriage of Cana, by Tintoretto, ant
many Others too numerous to mention in
THE STIFFNESS OF VENICE.
the absence of all youthful street-play and
enjoyment, seems oppressive and melan-
cnoly 10 one accustomed To life In our great
cities No horses are seen in the streets, but
a few are Kept for the exercise of riding In
the botanical gardens or public park, situ-
ated at the northern extremity OF the city.
ordinary city life. The strange, weird
sounds one hears are when the gondoliers
call out, Clio e. l6oat ahead,l "Preme,"
(pass TO rightly ''Soii, |" pass to left,) accom-
panied by the splash of an oar now and then,
and these are peculiar TO this floating city.
WALKS ABOUT VENICE.
square) bordering on the Lagoon some moon
light night and listen to the songs of the gon-
harmony. and the strange effect or blue tint
the moonlight gives TO the scene.
We walked out one night and stood on
one of the bridges that cross the small canal
between the dreadful old prison and the ele.
CANT palace of the Doges; and we had a fine
view OF the Bridge OF sighs which spans this
the palace This bridge is OF white marble,
but now blackened somewhat by exposure
to the weather for so many years; il is quite
a small bridge compared with the Rialto,
which crosses the grand canal some distance
from the prison.
The night we walked down to the Lagoon.
huge vessel, 1.-THE Malta" was lying at
anchor few rods from shore, having come
up the Adriatic from the Mediterranean q
few days pr evious. The CLEANS of the lights
from its portfolios reflected in the CULVER
ing waters OF the Lagoon, seemed to dance
along, reaching out TO the land.
The PALACE OF THE DoGEs,
or Dncal Palace, looks toward the Piazzetta,
aud il fine structure, OF Venetian Gothic
style, erected in 1850. Many fine ancient
statues are the ornaments TO this building.
The fine portal near 81. Marks Is of differ
ent colored marble, and approaches the re-
naissance style. A statue Of Justice Is rep
resented IN the pediment-
There Is q large court in the center of this
palace. ver'ooSing IL Is the high window
OF the prison room once occupied by the poet,
Count Silvio Peliico. Within the court are
two wells with bronze curbing, the edges of
Italian women and girls, almost children,
use TO draw up the water. After filling their
copper buckets they swing them upon a
wooden yoke borne upon their shoulders, and
carry them long distances.
The stairway by which the palace is en-
tered Is called Scala del Giganti. Another
leading up into the large entrance hall is
called Scala d'Oro. constructed by Sanso-
vino. and was accessible only to those whose
Golden Book At the top of this golden stair
way the DOges were often crowned. Within
may be seen Tintoretto's large picture of
" Paradise said TO be the largest oil paint
Ing in the world.
Near the Lagoon are two granite columns;
THE WINGED LION OF ST. MARK,
the emblem of Nenice's saint; the other st.
Theodore standing upon crocodile. Near
by is the headquarters OF the gondoliers.
The largest piazza Is the square in front of
St Marks church, and IL is known as {" La
Piazza" 1t is well paved with blocks of
and is kept cleanly swept. A good band of
music performs here two or three times q
week, playing the favorite operas and other
tunes. La Piazza is the chief scene of the
carnivals of Venice.
ONE OF THE PLEASANTEsT FEATURES
In Venice is TO see the nocks OF pigeons That
friendly public. Two sous will buy a cornu-
copia Of corn from the little black eyed Ital-
sometimes six or seven Sf which viii Pis Light
on and feed from your hands They are SO
tame and come so near, you fear TO move
Ing TO tradition, Admiral Dandolo, while be-
seiging Gambia In the thirteenth century, re-
ceived word from the island by means OF
carrier pigeons, which facilitated its con-
quest. He then sent the birds to Venice with
news OF his success, since which time their
descendants dan have been carefully provided for
and we'll finished hooks and crannies for
places of refuge in the architecture OF ST.
cade Of St Marks may be seen great num-
bers resting, ready to be called down by
In front Of st. Marks are three high fiag
STATS, resembling candelabras which once
bore the banners OF the kingdom, Cyprus,
tdn0la, ana the MOrt8 10 commemorate
their subjugation OF the republic.
Opposite ST. Marks rises the Campanile
(bell-tower of the Cathedral) II stands sep
arate from the church, and Is three hundred
and twenty-five feet high, but is easily as.
cended by winding inclined plane, with a
step at each corner, and il well lighted.
From the tops view Is obtained of the city
the LAGOON, the Alps, and a part Of the
The clock tower, resembling a triumphal
erected In 1895, and Is of no small Interest
On the top are two small vulcans In bronze
VINO strike the hour on q large bell, and by
means OF revolving machinery and trans
parency the hours and minutes OF time are
visible nom the Piazza
Three sides of this piazza OF St Marks are
enclosed by marble buildings. or former pal-
aces, once occupied by the highest officials
cfthe republic That is the reason they are
called Procurazie. On the east side OF this
open square Is
THE CHURCH OF ST. MARKS,
and the Piaxzetta, q small piazza; the south
side adjoins the Lagoon. On the ground floor