The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-01-02
Christmas in Venice .

4 4
And now the blessed Christmas eve has
come. A hush settles upon the city with
twilight. The toiling fathers and moth
ers stroll, with the 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 faring
I brass lampi. The bridges lie white and
calm in the dusk, with heavy shadows
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 outstretched hands and WIDE
spread wings. A holly 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 fiesta night; peasant soldiers
who are thinking Of the little homes
among the Southern olive hills; young
girls with faces shining with holy
thoughts. J. In the upper sky fingers the
pale twilight green that the old Venetians
dwelt upon so lovingly. The tower of
Glorgio rises, stately shaft, against the
darkening sky, with the golden angel
standing in relief against the clear space
the early moon has left in its wake. At
the angels feet CLOVIS the great bright
steadfast evening star. The lagoon isred
with the reflected after glow Great
black shadows lie athwart it from the
hulks of the anchored vessels. The net
work OF masts and cordage that stands
black against the ruddy sky is reproduced
/ IN the pale water.
The domes Of the city rise black against
the late twilight sky, and along the
waters edge CLEAN rows Of golden lights:s
! Old converts that long echoed with the
Christmas merriment of monks frown
upon the joyful people, white and ghostly
in their age. Ii
In the wine shops the gondoliers are
isinging noisy Christmas ballads. In the
the larger cafes officers in spurs and float
| ing cloaks are grouped about the little
tables, playing chess and drinking coffee.
Old men are knitting their brows over
the newspapers, forgetful Of Christmas
eve. Young mon are whispering to-
gether and laughing over their stories, I'M
mindful Of the old blind man who is
singing some quaint Christmas carol at
the door to the sound Of the worn guitar.
Sometimes young girls-fresh pretty
1 things stand with their mothers in the
cigar smoke, and wall Christmas carols
to plaintiye violin accompaniment, that
makes them stop and listen until tears
come into their eyes at the thought of
I Christmas hopes dead long ago.
At the Molo gondolo crouch dark
/ against the q'iva,With stakes rising among
them, crowned now and then with a little
Gothic tabernacle that has lamp flicker
! Ing before coarse print of the Virgin.
The gondoliers lounge wrapped in their
heavy cloaks, with the vhite-eyed lion
/ glazing upon them, and St. Theodore
| gazing scornfully upon s.aeir plebeian
shapes, cover groups of wsys.asen and chill
dren and old men. Some instinct of adj
Grafton has driven them out under the
open sky to wait for the mystical coming.
Through the dusk CLEAN the white re-
Ginning figures on the arches of the Zecca.
The statues stand dark against the sky
under the great black shaft of the Cam
panile. The moonlight glitters 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 a back
ground for the figures of the passers-by
streams the light from the brilliant
windows under the Procuratlc and the
long bright streets beyond the clock
4 tower The giants that strike the bell
stand out among the chimneys, and below
them, against the black front above the
arch, glowing the golden numbers OF the
hour.
On the side of the church, where the
1 mosaic Virgin sits high in her niche. with
i gold and gleamiDg marbles and carving
1 and smiling monsters about her, burn two
hickering points of flame. q They have
shone there for centuries -the republics
i peace-otfering to soul whose body was
4 put to death between the fatal columns.
at the door OF the basilica, weary mothers
! and children crouchsamong the parphyry
columns and the grinning monsters.
4 In the yestibule lie old doges in can
and gown, with their hands folded on their
breasts, and strange stone figures ADORE
their heads. From the dolnes leer down
whitehead figures gaunt and spare, that
the fancy OF the old Greek workers in
mosaic wrought with prayer ages ago, into
4 the worship offering of the cathedral.
1 Behind them CLEANS golden surface
i that rouses itself from the shadows,
a when the doors of the church are
/ opened. III 4. v # 5 %
The people stream across the yestibule.
4 a a. rushing sound of voices and sweet toned
II instruments issues from the church The