Osage Valley banner., 1880-09-30
.TnE 0rHEN oF TnR SO. =

THE QUEEN W lHh SEAs
rng clty 81 Venice. oftcn called
''the Queen OF the Sea- is one OF the
most beautiful cities in Italy, and is
built on number Of small islands in
the Adriatic Sea.
IL the fourteenth and fifteenth cen
turies Venice was at the height of its
power and splendor It's Chief Magis-
tratc was called Dogc, and, though
tho Government was Republican, there
was very much more splendor and pomp
than in our day.
The palace OF the Dogo still stands as
one OF the monuments Of that time,
very interesting 10 travellers, and tho
famous +" Bridge of Sighs, spanning
the canal, joins the palace with the
prisons.
Some of you may have read Byron's
lines.
A." stnod in Yonicc on the BItao ~ sighs,
palace and prison on each hand
Persons accused of crimes against the
State were tried Ia The palace before
the Doge. and after they were SEN
fenced, the criminals were taken across
the Bridge Of Sighs' 10 the dungeons,
where they remained until their eXecu-
Alf'it ~ Niild bAfAkN WIS lAhttA hIl
named.
Tho Church Of San Marco. or St.
Mark, was built at very early date. aud
WAS improved aud enlarged NJ inter
walls during several centuries Its gi-
gantc clock has been the wonder OF
many ages, and It's beautiful stceple or
"Campanile," rs the Italians call IL, can
be seen for miles against the clear sky
with an angels figure poised on its
summit. The church aud the buildings
connected with 1t occupy a whole
square.
On the roofs of these lives colony
OF doves or pigeons, who build their
nests aud rear their young undisturbed
Pigeons have for centuries been pro-
teetcd by the keepers of the church
II WAS an ancient custom. dating as
far back as A. D. SIT, for the sacris-
tans or sections, after tle service on
Palm sunday, TO let loose number of
pigeons, fettcred with strips OF paper.
The people were allowed 10 catch as
many Of these birds as they could, and
fatten them to eat on Easter Sunday.
AS many pigeons as escaped and took
refuge on the roof Of tho church were
protected. ms belonging 10 the sacred
ediiice. and were fed at tho expense Of
the Republic During all the wars and
troubles, and until the downfall Of this
Government in May. A. ID. 1897, these
little birds were cared for, and lived
their happy lives, unconscious OF con
fusion around them. They were very
tame, and would feed from the hands
OF those accustomed to throw them
their daily portion OF grain. After the
Republic was done away with, and the
palace OF the DOgcs was unocCupied
apious lady left bequest to continue
the supply 20 the pigeons. This lady
was OF the COrnaro family, once high
IN esteem In Venice, As there were q
number Of sacristans Of San Marco,
the feeding OF the pigeons was intrust-
od 70 some members OF their families,
their wives or daughters.
One OF the most interesting features
OF Venetian life were the festivals
which occurred every year, and served
70 keep in remembrance certain events
IN the history OF the city. Among these
was one kept annually for centuries
called LA Festa della Marie, and this
Is the incident IL commentaries; In
very old times, IL was the custom in
Venice to have NIL the marriages among
the mobiles and chief citizens celebrated
on the same day, and in the same
church in the eastern part OF the city,
on little island called Olivolo, where
the Bishop lived. On the day of the
tetc elegant gondolas were seen on the
waters, carrying people dressed in holi-
day attire 20 the appointed place, aud
the young couples landed 10 the sound
OF sweet and Joyous music. The jewels
and other presents given 10 tho brides
were carried In the procession, and q
long train Of friends, relatives and at
tendants came after.
In A. ID. 1888 an event happened at
this ceremony which came very near
ending tagically for the happy lovers.
The pirates of Istria, a neighboring
country, were In the habit of securing
the Adriatio, and were the terror OF all
the cities on the coast. Always alert
for plunder. they decided that The time
OF the Venetian wedding feast would be
favorable one to enrich themselves
very easily. Near 10 Oliyolo was
small island, at that tiCle uninhabited.
and here. the day before the Jete, tho
willy lstriotes concealed themselves and
their light vessels.
The next day, the gay companies
passed slowly along TO the church, un-