Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-04-08
Foreign Correspondence Free Press and Times =
The Queen Of the Airiatic
TIE ASCENT OF TIE CAMPANILE-THEOUGH
THE CITY IN a GoNDOLA.
VENICE March O. 1881.


TIE ASCENT OF TIE CAMPASILE-TuEoUGH
THE CITY IN a GoNDOLA.
VENICE, March 0, 1881.
The sun was sinking in the west this ever
ing, our last in ''the queen city Of the Adri-
attic" when we remembered Baedeker's ad-
vice to climb the campanile or beethoven of
1t. Mark for the excellent view it affords.
The sun was shining clear in 4 cloudless sky
and the peculiar southern atmosphere was
clear as crystal. Surely not better time
could he desired for taking a birds eye view
Of the city, its islands and lagoons, Padua,
Trieste and other neighboring cities, and the
Snowc capped Alps in the north. So the
plan was scarcely suggested before we were
AZ the entrance of the campanile, Lad paid
the zee of fifteen centimes about four
cents and began the ascent. My friend re-
marked that he had climbed good many
hills before, but lac believed this was tie
poorest scenery that he ever tried to enjoy.
Indeed the ascent was little less than climb
by steep inclined brick walk till We were
more than three hundred feet from the
ground, and as the view was confined to the
rough side of n heavy brick wall and an oc-
'''''''i''i s'ii"e through hlrrow Wlhuo"syou
can easily bellows that it was by no means
picturcsnue view that we eniovcd when We
s,,,,ro, 70 ros, p,,, ,o ,,ro,,J ,;o ,-,,,,
'''ii'" " ''''' D"' '"' s'""' VIC" 'ioii'
inc Top oil Inc campanlle was 10 compensate
for this misfortune, and when once there |
nniIcinatcd -, nicturc which il voulJ Inc
Nv S'''a'' pressure u iiy oc'oie 'ic 'ea''e's
OF the FrEE Press. remember now only
one hasty glance over the irregular roofs and
chlmncys and tortuous streets when small
cloud of mist or smoke-my friend said it
was from passing steamer-for the moment
interrupted the view. We both supposed it
was hut for moment and were carclessly
watching the steamer from which We sup
posed ii came, when suddenly dense vol
ume of fog rolled over us completely shutting
ont the light OF the sun from above and even
st. Marks and the square under us. II was
white as snow, but in its density it was equal
to the black walls OF log and smoke which
have seen rolling up the river
Thames and through the streets OF London.
len minutes or more we waited with the
hope that the fog would pass, but at last we
lost the SIGHT OF splendid Venetian sunset
and with it poetic view of the most poetic
of oriental cities.
am Obliged, therefore, to content myself
with description Of Venice as seen from the
inside. | wish it were possible TO speak here
oil the real inner lie OF Venice, OF the paint
ings of the Nivarini, the Bellini, Palma,
Titan, and 1intoretto, whose imperishable
works fill the ancient churches and art gal
lcries, but | cannot do more in this brief
sketch than to tell what ! have seen during
many pleasant gondola rides through her
canals and many long walks through her
streets and alleys. Of her history can say
nothing; II is sad and painfully interesting
story which can best he learned from the I'M
partial historian,
1t is well-known that the gondola Is the
approved vehicle of the Nenilians, and the
gondolier at the same time the driver and
horses. With its long narrow form the gon-
dola is perfect model of grace. 1t glides
through the quiet canals us lightly and proud
ly as swan. Under pleasant sky nothing
can he more delightful than to reclne on the
soft cushions with the funereal cover remov-
ed, and with the brllliancy OF iaFpets and
polished cpa.s 81 arms forgetting the MOURN
iul color OF our little craft, TO scan the
splendid palaces of the doges and learn
about other monuments OF art, Yesterday
we took a five hours iide with well-in-
formed gondolier, whose grandfather. II we
may believe his story, was gondolier 10 Lord
Byron. lie pointed out TO US the splendid
old palace on the grand canal where that tai
ented English poet resided before his arrest