The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-18

to beer saloon, and | had to treat him
and this is about all the information got
out OF him.
Adjoining the Doge's palace is the church
or cathedral of St. Mark. Over the door.
way are the four brouze horses-the only
horses, dead or alive, in Venice. There
are many persons now living i'll Venice who
never saw live horse, and no doubt many
persons imagine them to be only a myth,
like the ancient satyrs, but the bronze
horses of st. Mark are truly beautiful and
they have history which may prove inter
esting. They are four in number. 1t is
said that they were presented by Nero, who
caused them to be harnessed to the chariot
of the sun and which formerly surmounted
his triunlh bal arch at Rome They are
supposed to be the work of a Corinthian
artist named Lysippus. They stand d.
rectly over the portal. They were removed
10y Constantine to Venice at the conquest
Of Cunstantnople by the rusaders, and
they became a part of the valuable spoils
which fell to the share of the Eenetians.
They were taken by Napoleon l., in 1897,
and were sent to Paris. He thought by
taking these horses from the Nenetia ns it
would do more than anything else to humii-
late them, except the taking of the bones
of st. Mark from the cathedral bearing his
name. They We're originally placed in
their present position by Marine Zene, in
1905. In 1915, the Emperor, Francis l.
had the horses sent back to the grateful
and thankful Venetians, and with much
rejoicing and tears Of happiness they were
replaced in the same position from which
they were taken, and remain there to this
day. source of admiration to all visitors
of Venice. They have been the subject of
a threat used by Genoese admiral, named
Peganio DORA. When asked and begged
for peace by the exhausted but not vanish
ed Nenetians he replied: "Peaces Yes,
when have put bit III the mouth of St.
Mark S steeds. and not till them
We next enter the portico and on the
right are seen two blocks of red marble
which mark the spot made famous by the
humlliating interview between that great
man Frederick Barbarossa and Pope Alex
ander Ill, on the 23rd of July, 1177, upon
which day reconciliation took place be-
tween them. | am told that Oh this very
spot Barbdrossa Frustrated himself before
the Pope, who placed his foot upon his
neck, and upon Barbarossa asking his for
giveness in public, the Pope then and there
forgave him and let him go away rejoicing.
poet, by the name of Rogers, thus writes
about it:
''In that temple porch
The brass is gone, the periphery remains)
Did Barbarossa fling his mantle off.
And, kneeling, on his neck received the
foot
OF the proud pontiff; thus, at last consoled,
For flight. disguise, and many an anguish
shake
On his stone pillow"
l like this little scrap of poetry, but l
must confess that l do not understand the
last two lines.
The feeding of the pigeons of Venice is
a beautiful sight, and ever to be remem
tered. In the afternoon of every day, in
St Marks Square, the pigeons are fed, by
person especially appointed for the pur-
pose This feeding takes place at precisely
two o'clock. Prior to that hour not
pigeon can be seen, but as soon as the old
clock in the tower peals out the hour of
two, pigeons come flying from every direc-
ton and settle down in the square to a
good square meal of wheat, barley and
corn. which is distributes to them by their
els of the mixture to them each day, for
there are about $500 to 1000 pigeons to
feed, and perhaps there may be some in
vited guests to be fed also. These pigeons
resemble our tame pigeons very much, both
in color and size. The feeder of the pi-
geonS steps out of his house in St. Marks
Square, just at the first tap of the bell at
two o'clock in the afternoon, and at the
same instant the sky is darkened by the
pigeons, He Immediately commences to
scatter the seed and they commence to
gobble it up. | got some seed from the
feeder and placed handful in the crown
of my felt hat. In an instant | was Gov
cred with pigeons. This feeding lasts
about twenty minutes, and then they all
fly away to their homes, aud bill and coo,
aud talk over the fine feast they have just
had. No one dares to injure them or to
modest them. They have free pass into
every persons house, and do generally
pretty much as they please. But how came
the pigeons there? | don't know. | asked
my guide, and he led me to a wine shop for
another drink; but it is said that during
one of the wars in which the warlike
Nenetians were constantly engaged that
tney-the Venetiaus became very much
impoverished; in fact, in a starving con
dition; that while they were in this con-
dition, pigeons came to them bearing in
their little mouths and threats grains of
wheat, barley and corn. After the seige
was raised, the pigeons came back, and
begged the Venetians by motions, to re-
pay them for their kindness in time OF
their distress. The Venetians have been
endeavoring to pay their debt of gratitude
for nearly three hundred years, but as far
as can see they are getting into the mre
deeper every year. Although the pigeons
do not increase very rapidly, they are num-
bered at 4000 and their number has not
increased materially FOR the last twenty five
years. Another story is told about the
feeding OF the pigeons, that the expenses
are betrayed by the liberality of old
lady who left an annuity for that purpose.
There is one thing certain, the pigeons
know as well as any one i'll Venice when 1t
is o'clock in the afternoon.
| think the finest band of music that ever
| heard, performs in the ST. Marks
square every evening, except on Sunday.
1t is composed of just one hundred
musicians. The music they played was
excellent, the audience very attentive; no
horses nor carriages interrupting the sweet
sounds, and the whole of Venice appeared
to be assembled in St. Marks square, eating
ices, and enjoying the cool breeze from off
the aQFldtlC. III tue uOleI every luluS
appeared home like. The beds were diff
ferent from any found elsewhere in Italy
or Germany. They were large double beds,
like those we have with us. No carpets
are on the floor; the furniture in the room
is very plain. | remember the first time /
ever slept in German bed. When |
went up to my room, about II O'Clock at
night, saw high concern in one corner
covered over with a light red, soft muslin
spread The bed looked like a young
elephant, accoutered for the show. 1t
was about as tall as a young elephant; in
fact, so high that had to get on chair
TO get into it. After undressing, | turned
down the light, threw down the light cover
Jumped into bee, but not to sleep. felt
cold, although it was midsummer. |
thought throughout the long hours of the
night, what an uncomfortable place these
narrow Dutch beds are. Towards morning
| fell into an uncomfortable, disturbed
rest, but about seven O'Clock the female
attendant came to my room, opened the
door, and brought with her pot of coffee
and two rolls. But when she saw me
L 81, cha h,rc