Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-06-07

A correspondent from Venice in q recen
letter saws: Soon the IRON PROV Of th'
gondola IS -nnuing against the stone en-
trance of st. Lazarus. Hundreds of year
ago Venice used the island as plsce o
refuge for lepers, who came from thu
East, and hence lis name, for that saint Il
supposed to be the special patron OF thost
afflicted With leprosy. In April, l1l5, 6
boat left q galley which was anchored IL
THIS very lagoon, having the standard o.
of ST. Mark al its head When 1t reached
the shore, MeKinthar. .he famed Armenian
priest, and eleven companions, stepped
out. These were fleeing from the perse-
cutIons they had undergone in CONSTANT
nople, aud came TO ask the protection o
the Republic. L hey were kindly received
and in less than three years after the sen
ate gave them the Isle of st. Lazarus anc
its buildings forever. These latter were,
however, mostly in ruins, and had moi
been used for more than hundred years,
as the disease for which they were lnten-
ded had become extinct-or almost so. by
a slow process of time and many discour-
agements, the buildings were finally re-
IL y
received many Improvements AID addi-
lions. Ii was TO this place, then, that
had come. At the door pleasant faced
monk. clad in the black robe of the orders
in the East, bowed me in. After few
words and more salutatlons he conducted
me through a garden heavy with the per-
fume OF magnolIas and orange blossoms.
into the library of thirty thousand vol
umes-the richest in Armenian literature
In Europe. The books are arranged in
elegantly carved cases. pictures are around
the walls, and In the corners busts OF
Carrara marble of the founder of the order
and of Pope Gregory XVI Many fine
and almost priceless manuscripts, Illus
trated Cby hand of course) are sights of
rarely. This is strange sight-an Egyp-
tian mummy with features splendId.y pre-
served, and the large GRADING teeth white
against the blsckened lips. Then we pass
through long entry, on both sides Of
which are numbered cells fof the brothers,
and into the printing room, with upwards
of q dozen Eaglish hand-presses. 1t is
chiefly from the profits of these presses
that the community is supported. Many
of the classics issued here were formerly
much priced. The works Of Eusebius
and Philon, the Israelite, are destroyed,
and only the Armenian version now exists.
4 prayer of an Armenian priest Is prin-
ted III three different languages, and IS
model of typographical neatness. Many
of the works which issue from these quiet
corners are sent TO Turkey, Russia. Persia,
and even to the Indies.
At three O'Clock the monks 90 to ser
vice, and / stop to gaze on the line of men
in their long gowns filing into the little
church, They are singing and chanting
in the ronOtOnOus tones of the Armenian
tongue, and when they are all within l
step within to get ''look around. At
the foot of the high altar is the tomb of
MeKinihar, and on the right beautiful
copy of the Madonna, done by Jean Emir,
a converted Turk There is a look of
peace and Quietness over all and when
one looks out on the little vineyards frem
which q famous wine is made called
"Arara', " hears the lazy hum OF the bees
amidst the flowers, and sees beyond the
spircs Of the city, he wonders if the good
monks never cast longing look towards
her "busy marts and maddenlng crowd. .
Here is where they dIne-oH this large
table, with few dishes and bottles of
WING, they eat in silence, under the shs-
dow of picture of the last Supper, "
the Archbishop, fathers, and Students
Tor there are students; some few come
here each year from far distant lands 1t
was here that Lord Byron studied the
Italian language, and out In The little room
ahead are several portraits of him. In
frame is an autograph letter of his and one
of Napoleon BonapaIte.