Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-22
Mistellameous.
CHRISTMAS IN VENICE.

Aud now the blessed Christmas
has come. A hush settles upon the CITY
with the twilight. The toiling fathers and
mothers. stroll with he children in their
arms, along the passages between the CAV
booths. and laugh and shout and chatter
with the bronzed peasants. whose faces
stand out in RELIEF behind the tlaring brass
lamps. The bridges lie white and calm
in the dusk, with heavy shadows gathered
in the water under the arches Along
the canal, the reflections of the house
fronts lie black against the dusk OF the
mirrored sky. Here and there the stree,
light falls on an angel gazing down with
ou,stretched hands and widespread wings.
holy peace is on ne beautiful stone
faces, and the mouths are parted with
mute hosarnas.
Along the lagoon groups are strolling
toward the piazza, for theie Is service IN
St. Marks. There are sailor lads dressed
alresh for the fiesta night: peasant sol
diers who are thinking ot the little homes
among the Southern olive hills; Young
girls with faces shining with holy thoughts,
In the upper sky fingers the pale twilight
green that the old Nenetians dweIt upon
so lovingly. The tower of San Giorgios
rises, stately shaft, against the darkeg-a
ing sky, with the golden angel standing
in relief against the clear space the early
moon has left in its wake. At the n gels
feet glows the great steadiast evening
star. The lagoon is red with The reflect
ed aiter-glow. Great black shadows lie
athwart it from the hulks of the anchored
vessels. The network of masts and cor4l
dage that stands black against the rudy
skv l. reproduced in the pale water
The domes of the city ise black against
the twilight sky, and along the waters
edge gleam rows of golden lights.
In the wine shops the gondolers are
singing noisy Christmas ballads. Iu the
larger cafe officers in spurs and ioaiing
cloaks are grouped about the little tables,
playing chess and linking coffee. Old
men are knitting their hrows over the
new spapers, iorgeliul "i Chrstil,a>-evc
\ Dung men are Whispering together and
laughing over their stories, uiuindful ol
The old blind man WHO j. singing snine
quaint Christmas carol al the th,sr t., ihr
sound o! his worn gui : iu,''iur-
young girls--iresh. pruy lhIng>--siaod
with their mothers in tue recking ci-
gar smoke, and wall Christmas clrul- "a
Il paintive violin accompaniment. that
makes them stop and listen until Tears
| come into their eyes at the thought OF
Christmas hopes dead long ago.
At the Molo the gondole crouch dark
| against the riva, with stakes rising among
them, crowned now aud then with "A little
| Gothic tabernacle that has a lamp flicker
| ing before coarse print oil the Virgin.
The gondoliers lounge. wrapped in their
heavy cloaks, about the landing. On the
pedestals of the columns, with the white
eyed lion glaring upon them, and ST.
Theodore gazing scorniuly upon their
plebeian shapes, COVER groups OF women
and children and old men. Some instinct
of alteration has driven them out under
the open sky to wait tor the mystical com
ing.
Through the dusk gleam the white re-
clinng figures on the arches of the Zecca.
The statues stand dark against the sky un-
der the great black shaft OF the Campa.
nile. The moonlight gitters on the
arched window OF the ducal palace and
under the dusk OF the balcony curves,
| forcing the white shafts to strong relief.
Across the piazza, forming back.
ground for the figures OF the passers-by.
streams the light from the brilliant win
dows under the Procuratic and the long
bright street beyond the clock tower. The
giant that strikes the bell stand out among
| the chimneys, and below them, against the
black front above the arch, glow the gold
en- numbers of the hour.
On the side of the church, where the
mosaic Virgin sits high in her niche, with
gold and cleaning marbles and quaint
| carving and smiling monsters about her,
burn two flickering points OF flame. They
| have shone there for centuries-lhe repub-
| lies peace-offerng to soul whose body
was put to death between the fatal col
umns. At the door of the basilca, weary
mothers and children crouch among the
! porphyry columns and the grinning mon
sters.
In the vestibule lie old doges in cap and
gown, with their hands folded on their
breasts, and strange stone figures above
| their heads. From the domes leer down
white-faced figures. guant and spare, that
| the fancy OF the old Greek workers In mo-
saics wrought with prayer, ages ago, into
the worship Offering of the cathef' al.
Behind them CLEANS II golden surface that
| rouses itself from the shadows when the
doors of the church are opened.
The people stream across the vestibule
| A rushing sound of voices and sweet-toned
| instruments issues from the church. The
chance is blaze of light from the glow
ing altar tapers, reflected thousandfold
from the wondrous tabernacle of gold and
silver that was wrought long ago in the
| youth of the republic by the cunning work
men of Byzantum.
/ Slender columns sculptured in Eastern
device rise dark against the space of
flame. On the ehancel railing stands the
| apostles with the Virgin in their midst.
black in the sheets OF golden light. Tall
| tapers, like white lily stalks, rise between
them. In the nave crystal cross bios
somng with lights hangs from the gilded
dome among the long draperied prophets
AT every cornice, on the edge OF every
column, stands great golden angel keep
ing guard over a tall white taper that
iises before him. The clear-cut curve of
the arch and the graceful winged shape
| are defined against the dusk OF the great
side naves. Under the shadowy arches
of the side naves hang heavy bronzed
lamps with crimson glowing flame. cast
ing ruddy lights upon the dark marbles OF
the walls. Before the brown old bass-re
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