Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1878-08-24

are most frequently visited, and 1t is
no uncommon sight to see three or
four at once. They are mostly
manned or blind and the generous
hearted traveller very often turns a
deaf ear to their appeals because he
cannot afford this constant drain upon
his purse.
On account of my long silence 7
shall be compelled to omit mention.
ing many places at which we stopped
and give you only resume of our
journey hither.
The day after leaving Rome we
were at Rimini, a city on the Adriatic.
Here we staid all night and in the
morning took delightful sea-bath.
Next morning we were in Venice,
the Floating City Venice is one
of the interesting cities of Europe,
but its day of prosperity is consider
ed over. 1t is quaint old city and
is well worth visit. We went to
many of the interesting places and
were pleased with all. We took a
ride in a gondola On the Grand
Canal" and through the little canals
and thus obtained a view Of all the
elegant buildings which, to use the
poet Campbell's description, seem to
rise from the waters st. Mark s
place is the principal point in the
city. 1t is large enough to be a prom
enade and on Sunday evening the
Italian military band gave a concert,
Oh which occasion it was thronged by
parties enjoying their evening walk
or riding out in the open air slipping
their beer, wine or coffee. st. Mark s
Cathedral is the principal church in
the city. It is at the head OF st.
Mark place, and right near it is the
tower. The ascent Of the tower ia
very gradual, like going up a very
steep hill. Napoleon, it is said, to
add another feat to his list, rode to
the top of the tower on horseback
but it was not much to do as any one
can do that
One curious thing about Venice is
the absence of horses. We did not
see horse during our stay there.
They have no use for them; horse,
in fact, could not get along, for he
could not get over the bridges which
are narrow, like the streets, when
there are any, and built high above
the canals and reached by eteps. 1t
is not strange when you come to think
about it, but a city without horses
seems queer. Another thing peculiar
to Venice is the great quantity of
pigeons about st. Mark place. There
are thousands here and they fly
around in all directions. Every day
ut two clock, as soon as the great
clock strikes, they flock to certain
place and receive their food from the
hands Of a man appointed by the gov
'rnment. They are great pets and
ore so tame that they will sit on your
wrist and ea5 corn out of your hand.
The mention OF another thing Of Ven
ice must suffice for this city. 1t is
the great bridge built by Austria in
l64l across the Adriatic, and is prob
ably the longest bridge in the world,
being $500 yards.
Our next stopping place was Vero-
Ia, where is one of the best preserved
Roman amphitheatres to be found.
1t is not as large as the Colosseum at
Rome, but can accommodate 22,00O
spectators. Ii is without doubt the
lest preserved building Of the ancient
Romans. The city cherishes it so
tondly that it has kept it in almost
perfect preservation. The only por-
ton which has been permitted to 80
to ruin is the circular wall rising from
the back row of seats. 1t is used to
this day for theatrical performances.
From this building alone Che can get
an idea Of the masnifcence and grand
eur which the ancient Romans en-
joyed. Verona also shows the home
Of Juliet; We saw the house in which
she Lived, but the garden which was
said to have been near it has long
since vanished from the gaze Of ra4n.
Not far from it arc the tomss of the
Scaligers, the old rulers Of the city.
They are in the middle Of the street
and enclosed by an iron railing.
Every ruler seems to have tried 10
rival his predecessor IN building for
himself an elegant tomb, as the tomb
of the last one is the finest of them all.