River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-01-03
Christmas in Venice.

ers stroll, with the children in their arms,
along the passages between the gay
booths, and laugh and shout and chatter
with the bronzed peasants, whose faces
stand out in relief behind the fiaring
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 mitrored 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 strolllng
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 In the upper sky fingers the
pale twilight green that the old Venetians
dwelt upon so lovingly. The tower OF
Ciiorgio rises, a stately shaft, against the
darkening sky, with the golden 1gel
standing in loliefagainst the clear 81 &C
the early moon has left in its wake. At
the angels feet CLOVIS the great bright
stesdfast evening star. The lagoon sred
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 tue 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.
Old converts that long echoed with the
Christmas merriment of monks trown
Upon the joyful people, white and ghostly
in their age.
In the wine shops the gondoliers are
singing 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 men 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-flesh pretty
things-stand with their mothers in the
cigar smoke, and wall Christmas carols
TO plaintive 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 gOndo1o crouch dark
against the rtra, with stakes rising among
them, crowned now and then with Il little
Gothic tabernacle that has lamp flicker
Ing before q coarse print of the Virgin.
The gondoliers lounge, wrapped in their
heavy cloaks, with the white-eyed lion
glazing upon them, and st. Theodore
gazing scornfully upon their plebeian
shapes, cover groups of women 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-
clining 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 back
ground for the figures of the passers-by
streams the light from the brilliant
windows under the ProeuratIc and the
long bright streets beyond the clock
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
mosaic Virgin sits high in her niche, with
gold and gleaming marbles and carving
and smiling monsters about her, burn two
Pickering points of flame. They have
shone there for centuries-the republics
peace-offering to soul whose body was
put to death between the fatal columns.
At the door OF the basiIica, weary mothers
and children crouch among the p0rphyry
columns and the grinning monsters.
In the vesdbule 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
whitehead figures gaunt and spare, that
the fancy of the old Greek workers in
mosaic wrought with prayer ages ago, into
the worship Offering Of the cathedral.
Behind them CLEANS a 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 sweettoned
instruments issues from the church. The
chancel 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
workmen Of Byzantium. Slender columns
sculptured in Eastern design rise dark
against the space of flame. On the chan
eel railing stand 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 a crystal cross blossoming with light
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
rises 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 bronze lamps
with crimson glowing fame, casting rHd-
DIV lights upon the dark marbles Of the
walls Before the brown old bass-reliefis
of Virgin and Child, straight and slender
with golden halos about their heads hang
silver lamps heavy with chains.
The manifold rays OF flame penetrate :