Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-03
NO 131.
Gales ano Skettbes.
From the Chambers Journal.
Ia SERENISSINA.
TALE OF ANCIENT VENICE.


Whilst all other capitals have gradually
increased. and are increasing every dayin
every direction. Venice. surrounded by its
inland sea, attained several centuries ago
its present size and shape. The Piazza
San Marco has been since then its Forum;
successive generations have daily repaired
to it in quest of news. Of sunshine or Of
friends and will continue TO walk under
its arcades. to cross it and recross it in cv-
cry direction. aS long rs the Duomo and
the Procuratio wall it round. as long as
the golden angel on st. Marks Tower
shines far above the silent city. Its glory
and its power have disappeared; the
Queen of the seas is now only a small
provincial town. But however fallen
from diplomatic or commercial point Of
view. Venice has still and will always
have peculiar thrilling interest. Every
stone has its own legacy of romance; ev-
cry dark gate is haunted by its familiar
ghost; every recess, every Granny. whis-
pers its old weird story.
The official annals Of the Most Serene
Venetian Republic contain innumersble
instances of secret arrests. secret trials,
followed almost always by still more Sc
crct executions; but besides these. many
a terrible drama has taken place within
the stone walls of the state prisons. Con-
venienty situated under the Ducal Palace,
and with their floors slightly under high
water mark. the ''wells''-as they were
called on account of their dampness-very
seldom gave upa victim except rs corpse.
Silent and dark as the grave. they were
fit instrument for stern and mysterious
tribunal. The severity of the Council Of
Ten. the swiftnsss with which it reached
both high and low, the secrecy Of its noe
turnal sittings and of its sentences. Great
ed universal feeling OF awe. that has not
yet completely disappeared.
Amongst the poorer classes there are
many who still believe in the existence Of
the Secret Council, and who expect il TO
reappear some day +; they abstain therefore
from any direct allusion to it, mentioning
it only when absolutely necessary. by the
vague term Of La Serenissima. We may
smile at this childish fear; but it proves
very clearly, the terror it must have in
spred, The following legend, that was
whispered to me short time ago by an
old gondolicr. will show by what means
this result was obtained. Though ! can
not vouch for the accuracy of every detail
their is no doubt in my mind rs to its gen.
eral truth, because the granfather Of my
informant lived at the time it occurred, and
would not have dared to repeat any tale
against the Serenissima unless he was sure
OF it. With this proviso, will now relate
the legend as | heard it whilst I was
quietly lolling in a Venetian gondola.
1t was toward the end of l76O. when
one night an English kings messenger
reached Mestre. wanting to cross over to
Venice. Sir John Hawser-such was his
| name-was young, brave. and very high
ly connected and as such, perhaps, he
had been chosen by the Ministry to con-
vey some trifling message to King
George Ills representative in that town.
After a delay that would seem enormous
to our modern express train travellers a
gondola was manned, his luggage loaded
in it, and at last it began to glide toward
the city.
He reached Venice Just before dawn,
and after hurried toilet and u still more
hurried breakfast. Sir John delivered his
packet. and began exploring the lanes
and alleys of this incomprehensible town.
Being tolerably proficient in the language
he soon found his way 10 the Piazza San
Marco, and was duly astonished by its Pc
culiar aspect. Then, as now, the Piazza
was the heart of the city; laws and edicts
were promulgated in it, sentences were
pronounced from the balcony Of the
Ducal Palace; whilst beggars. singers.
and others of similar caste gave il a
strange animation.
Thoroughly enjoying the freedom Of
walking after his long journey by coach
and gondola. Sir John indulged his ram
bling propensities to the full extent.
Whilst he was doing so a crowd col
lected in front of the Ducal Palace.
Naturally curious, and having nothing
else to do. he hastcned to the spot, and
elbowed his way to the centre. BY the
red pillar Of the balcony an usher was
reading out the sentence of some un-
known felon. with all the pompous cir
,cumlocutions so much in favor in those
days.
The wretched prisoner, just brought
out Of some dark cell, seemed scarcely to
realize the scene. as his eyes, unused now
tn the light of the sun, gazed vacsntly on
the excited mob that surrounded the low
scaGold on which he was standing.
The sentence having been read. the
lprisoner was taken away to the jail where
| he was to undergo the term of imprison-
!ment to which he had just been con-
ldemned; and the crowd. the sight being
lover. gradually dispersed.
This incident was in itself very trifing,
and Sir John would probably have forgot
ten it within week had it not been for its
strange consequences. Whilst pushing
land elbowing his way in the crowd Il
seems that some clever pickpocket had
Irobbed him OF his lace handkerchief
1t is certainly very unpleasant to be
robbed even Of value1ess article but in
this case the thief had obtained. valuable
prize; and besides, there was for Sir
John Hawser the additional sting ol
having been robbed by an Italian, He
would have been less angry had it hap
pened in London the pickpockets theil
were so clever that there was no shame in
being their victim: but to have beer
plundered by clumsy Venetian was toe
much for his equanimity, and be burst in
to torrent of abuse.
Speaking mostly in Italian. bat mixing
few English anathemas in his speech
he related his loss to . few byestandetu
and was advised by them to complain Il
the police, or rather to those officials VIII
A. G.YGI1~A A. tl-~.~~