The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-18
CHRISTMAS IN VENICE.

their arms, along the passages between
the gay booths, and laugh and shout and
chatter with the bronzed peasants, whose |
faces stand out i'll relief behind lhe mar
ing brass lamps. The bridges lie white |
and calm in the dusk, with heavy shad- |
ows gathered in the water under their |
arches, Along the canals the reflections |
of the house-fronts lie black against the |
dusk of the mirrOred sky. Here and
there the street light falls on an angel
gazing down with outstr0tched hands
and widespread wings. A holy peace Is
on the beautiful stone faces, and the
mouths are parted with mute hosannas.
Along the lagoon groups are strolling
toward the piazza, for there is service
in ST. Marks. There are sailor lads
dressed afresh for the JeStd night; peas
ant soldiers who are thinking OF the
little homes among the Southern olive
Mills; young girls with faces shining
with A0lv thoughts. In the upper sky
fingers the pale twilight green that the
old Venetians dwelt upon SO lovingly.
| The tower Of San Giorgio rises, astately
shaft, against the darKening sky, with
inc golden angel standing i'll reliet
against the clear space the early moon
| has lett in his wake. AT the angeFs teet
Flows the great bright steadtast evening
Star. The lagoon is red with the re
tlected aiter-gtow. Great DIack shadoWs
lie athwart il from the hulks OF the an
chored vessels. The network Of masts
and cordage that stands black against
the ruddy sky is reproduced in the pale
water.
Tue domes of the city rise black
against the late twilight sky, and along
lie waters edge gleam rows oil golden
flights, Ola cOnyents that long echoed
| with the Christmas merriment OF monks
frown upon the joyful people, white ana
ghostty in their age.
| In the wine shops the gondoliers are
singing noisy Chris tmas ballads. In the
llarger Catfe officers in spurs and floating
cloaks are grouped about the little ia
bles, playing chess and drinking coffee.
Ola men are knitting their brows over
The newspapers, forgetul OF Christmas
Eve, Young men are whispering to.
gether and laughing over their stories,
unmindlul of the old blind man who 10
singing some quaint Christmas carol at
tue door to the sound OF his worn guitar
sometimes young girls-fresh, pretty
things-,tand with their mothers in the
reeking cigar smoke, and wall Chris l.
mas carols to plalntve violin accom-
pauiment, that makes them stop and lis
len until tears come into their eyes at
the thought OF Christmas hopes dead
, long ago.
Attic Molo the g0nd0I9 crouch dark
4 against the rice with stakes rising
lamong them, crowned now and then
with little Gothic tabernacle that has
lamp flickering before a coarse print OF
the Virgin. The gOndoliers lounge,
wrapped in their heavy cloaks, about
the landing. On the pedestals OF the
columns, with the white-eyed lion glar-
ing upon them, and st. Theodore gazing
sc0rnfully upon their plebeian shapes
cover groups OF women and children
and old men. some instinct of adora
, ton has driven them out under the opel
sky to walt for the mystical coming.
Through the dusk CLEAN the white re
clinlng figures on the arches of th'
, ZeCca. The statues stand against thu
sky under the great black shaft OF thu
Campanlle. The moonlight glitters OF
4 the arched window of the duCal palact
! and under the dusk of the balloon.
curves, foG cling the white shafts to stronl
relief.
- Across the piazza, forming back
= ground for the figures OF the passers- b V
streams the light from the brillian
winSows under the Procuratic and the
= long bright street beyond the clock tow
/ er. The giants that strike the bell stanC
out am AZ the chImneys, and below
them, against the black front above th
arcD, glow the golden numbers OF the
i hour.
f On the side OF the church, where thu
Mosaic Virgin sits high in her niche
y with gold and cleaning marbles anC
I and quaint carving and smiling mon
:. sters ABOUT her, burn two tllckerin
v points oi flame. They have shOne tner
: for Centurles--the republics peace-OI
3 ferlng 10 soul whose body was put t.
II death between the fatal columns. A
h the door of basiliCa, weary mothers an(
children crouch among the porphyr.
, columns and the grlnniug monsters.
e In the vestlDule lie old doges in ca
o and gown, with their hands folded o.
+ their breasts, and strange stone figure
above their heads. From the domes lee
" down white-taced hgures. gaunG ant
lspare, that the fancy OF the old Gree
workers IN mosaic wrought with prayer
iages ago, into the worship Offering G
n t6e cathedral. BehIna them gleamS
igolden surface that rOuSeS Itself irOr
: line shadows when the doors OF tn
d church are opened.
= The people stream across the vest
1 bule. A rushing sound of voices an(
j. sweet-toned instruments issues from th
q church. The chancel is blaze or Ilgh
# lromahe glowing altar tapers, refecte
s a thousandtold from the wondrOus tab
DE-. ernacle OF gold and silver that wa
\ wrought long ago in the youth of the re
, pubnc by the cunning workmen OF BY
Izantium. Slender columns scuIpture
in Eastern device rise dark against TIA
space Of flame. On the chanceLrallln
stand the Apostles, with the Virgin i
y their midst, black IN the sheets OF goldeI
i, light. Tall tapers, like white lily stalks
rise between Luem. In the nave a crys
u tai cross blossoming with lights hang
from the gilded dome among tie long
g draperled prophets.
j. At every oornice, on the edge OF ever
+ column, stands great golden ange
G Keeping guard over tail white tape
that rises before him. The cleares
D. curve OF the arch and the graceiU
= winged shape are defined against tn
u dusk OF the great side naves. Under III
shadowy arches Of the side nayes han
= heavy bronze lamps with crimson glow
d ing fame, casting ruddy lights upon th
Q dark marbles Of the walls. Before tn
Il brown OLD bas-reliels OF Virgin an
y child, straight and slender, with golde
l. haIos about their heads, hang sllye
k lamps heavy with chains.
d The manifold rays of fame penetrat
q, deep into the dusk of the arches, glo
q Imellow in the pale gold Of the dome
10 Lranstigure the faces of the prophets an
saints and eyaugelists, and oonYer.