The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-09-18
of interest. "o'"'ns

~ a!afh, venice. has many
cnurcnes, but with the limited time at
9 our disposal only few claim attention.
ue rriafa contains 6ne monuments to
SahoVa and Titan Santa Maria della
GalIte Gani mas one OF the most graceful and
nusy Proporhoned facades in Europe,
terest. 'e' in
The Grand Canal is crossed nesr ,bo
centre OF the city by the celebrated bridge
1a'ieu tne hialto. 1t is single arch of
10 10 oo@ ieet span, 81 feet high and rests on
lS,VoV plies. 1t was built in the 10th
century cen. ana contains three passage WAYS
WIN q row OF shops on each side of the
centre passage: The name Rialto, was
originally applied to the main island of
tue group, which has always been the
business as well as the geographical cen.
IRE e OF t9e city, and it is probably this to
Mhich Snakespere refers in the "Mer.
cnaut OF Venice when Shylock says:
Slgnor Antonio, many time and oft
~ Ing hlalto you have rated me,
congregate."
The Grand Canal by moonliobt 10 natl,
regarded as one of the most fascinat;ngg
sights in Europe. The palaces wb;c6
,ihe iis shores have many Of them seen
their pest days, and in the glare of the
uoonaay sun appear trif1e "seedy" to
say the least; but the glamor of the soft
mioo1!,ght m throws charitable vail over
the dilapidation and evidences of decay
anu tue surroundings all combine to form
scene of enchanting beauty.
The gondola, which forms the only
means of transportation in Venice, is a
singular craft about 80 feet in length,
WIN sharply elevated PROV and seats
10 the centre for the passengers. The
boatmen stand on deck at the starn
and propel the gondola with a broad
flexible oar, literally pushing, with a
through the water. Such perfect control
do they have over their boats that thew
Will turn square corner within an inch
OF grazing it aud even when going at fnIl
speed will stop almost Instantly.
Venice has been Justly famous for her
advancement of the arts. Here Galileo
invented the telescope. Here the first
newspaper was printed in the sixteenth
century and sold for coin called a Ga.
zetta. Here the Order of Jesus. or les.
uits, was organized in 1886. The names
of Canova, Tasso, Marco Polo and MANY
| others illustrious in the annals of the
world are all associated with this city of
the sea.
We leave Venice with regret. It's pecu.
liar location. its wonderful history. the
evidences of its past greatness, all com.
bine to make it one of the most interest.
ing cities of Europe to the American
traveller. When we compare our own
hundred years of national life with the
twelve centuries during which this CITY
maintained an independent existence.
we feel that many of our faults and fol.
lies can be excused OH the score of youth
and inexperience but on tie other hand.
when we compare the condition of the
American people with the best days of
these old nations, we feel no reason to be
ashamed Of our growth and civilization.
Leaving Venice in the early morning
we stop over one train at Verona. CITY
of about 10000 population and about rs
miles from our starting point. We pass
through Padua and Vicenza aud as we
near the mountains at the foot of which
Verona is situated, We find the country
very fertile and highly cultivated. 4
system of irrigation is carried on which
rreatly increases the value of the land
and fine vineyards, fields Of corn and
other grain, and extensive mulberry
orchards, the leaves from which support
the silly worms, surround us or every
side.
The great attraction of Verona is the
the old Roman amphitheatre built A. d.
80, and still in good preservation. It's
outer wall was thrown down by an earth.
quake in the 18th century, but the seats
are almost perfect, and could Barnum o.
Forepaugh secure lease of it they would
find in its broad arena ample space for
the "Greatest Show on Earth" whila an
audience of 25,O00 could be accommo-
dated on the stone seats as we'll now as
in those old days when the Roman popu.
lace assembled to witness the bloody
| work of the gladiators. In fact at the
time of our visit an itinerant rope walker
had been giving an entertainment there
and his rope was still stretched across
from the upper tiers of seats far above
the arena. But the amphitheatre is'not
the only point of interest in Verona. The
romantic and sentimental traveller will
find in the garden of an old franciscan
monastery, near. the Southern wall, an
old stone sarcophagus, likened by many
unappreciative minds to an old stone
horse trough, which is pointed out as the
only original tomb of Juliet Although
the devoted Romeo ceased his attentions
some years ago, the fair Juliet has since
had many callers; as the bottom of the
ssrcophagus is covered to depth of sew
eral inches with visiting cards, represent
ing all nationalities and all quarters of
the globe. Nothing can be less attractive
or romantic, but the beauty of Shake
spere's play draws thousands Of visitors
here each year. The house of the Capu.
lets is in q street near by and is now oe.
cupied as hotel. Verona was one of
the fortresses of the famous "Quadrilater.
al" the others being Peschiera, Mantua
and Legnago, but its military Importance
is now thing of the paat.
+ Shortly after leaving Verona we pass
Lake Garda, the largest of the Italian
lakes and possessing some fine scenery.
Near this lake is the famous battlefield
of Solferino, where the French and Itel.
ians, under the third Napoleon in 1859,
struggled against the Austrian forces and
were finally successful. The fertile plain
through which the road passes is traversed
by numerous canals which are bordered
by long lines of tall Lombardy poplars,
giving d very striking appearance to the
landscape. A ride Of about four hours
from Verona brings us to Milan, the
second city in size in Italy and one of
the most prosperous of the entire king.
dom.
TRAVELLER.
In the Country.
Returned Prodigal al-"Dsarl Dear