Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-25

tl,e isondsn Yisnes.
There is no,hing an earth equal Il
Venice. pothing like her auywherc
aad one of the most wondrous OF her
Charms is that marvellous opai'ne light
tht Jewel-like radiance Of a1mespher'
which floats over her silver SEAS, he
osimy isles, Der countless dome ans
spires. Is the greed Of handful o
spectators. Us the hurry Of an unthInk'
my and idle crowd, TO be allowed e
poliute that magical air. these Sivins
skies We who argue thus are SWAY
twiited with impractical, romsncc, 20,
less ieeiine-with tn sacrifice Of the
useful to the beautiful; but is it not far
more utterly unwise to sacrifice the
labors oil centuries. the triumphs OF srt,
the mstchless blessings OF pure air aud
OF clear skies. to the greed of few and
TO the clumsy inventions OF the nine
teeuth century, which the twentieth viii
cast aside with ridicule and disgust 2
Let us even grant. if you think we mus,
grant II, that these inventions are for
the moment so necessary TO all forms
OF modern life that even people happy
enough to be born Nenetians cannot
exist without steamboats,, WORKS.
railways, and all their hidcons conse-
quences; It Is certain that much might
be done 10 restrain their evil rs-
suits. A gasometer need not have been
placed, as II mas been placed in Venice,
next to the beautiful cloia tered garden
and the grand Church OF San Francesca
celia Nigna. whose camp4nile is the
first that the Venetian sailor coming
from the east sees above tie horizon to
tell HIM he nears home. The most
lovely island of SAINT Elena with It's
deserted convent. its rose-covered cloIs-
tiers, it, lra-rant garden. reed not have
been taken, as 1t has been taken.
by the Government for their iron
works. so that brick chimney
belching forth black smoke over
acres Of bare clay is what first meet the
eyes Of the traveller who floats past the
green trees Of the public gardens on MS
way to the Lido. making an unseemiy
scar and blotch Of ugllness at the very
entrance upon one Of the diyinest
scenes which the world can show.
Thousands Of baskets Of clay are.
moreover, daily being added 10 this
foundry island, SO tina. the hide
BUSINESS of il will with every
month stretch further and fur
Their Oh. till IL will close III the la
COON and soon be visible from Venice
itself. Already the trees OF the public
gardens. naturally so stately anu luxu-
riaRt. are beginning to suffer from the
near neighborhood Of these chimneys,
while the bridge made to connect the
foundry with the city Is a cruel eyesore.
il might be apolitIchl necessity to drive
the nuns out OF the isle OF SAINT Elena,
but It should have been impossible tC
every sense Of fitness and Of decency II
the powers that be to turn their flow
eI.ng solitude into a smoking desolatIor
at the very water-gates Of Dandolo's
city.
Yet again, are all carvers OF stone
and builders OF stOne-bridges dead
throughout the land, that nothing bui
cast-irOn, that most hideOus OF all ma.
terials. can be found when and where
q new bridge is needed II Italy; j.
Venice the old bridges are also admlrs-
bic. even the smallest and poorest, thai
these cast-iron denominations appear
yiier here than almost anywhere they
are painted lead color, too, above, and
red underneath. If Titan had SEE,
them be would have died Of Insulted
eyesight. Ever when they must needs
make roof over the Pes
ciera-as if the hardy fishermen who
sell the sturdy traders and
cooks VINO buy could want onc -
they must 90 and make 1t OF the same
cast-Iren, SO that it stands blur and
blotch upon that delicious mass OF color
where yellow sails aud black boats and
baskets and fish-baskets and
bronzed balf-naked figures. which seem
TO have walked out from Tintorett0' b
cEnvases, and the grand lines OF the
kiAlto bridge. and the green glow and
ripple Of the water, all blend together
in picture which has the warmth and
aud beauty Of feast
aay painted BY Carpacclo. Cast
iron Good heavens IsIt not enough
to make all the great dead VINO he
IL IS. Giovanni paOla turn in
their graves: Then the advertise
ments is 1t fitting that a palace Of his
ioric fame should nave spread over all
rs front gigantic letters declaring that
some one sells glass or brlc-a-brac III
sids Il; Is IL fitting that 8 huge board
next to the DOge' S palace and prisons
should state that lace may be bought
here cheaper than pnywhere else
Niagara Is. believe. insulted by
American advertisements Of hotels.
iewins machines, and poison for rats
ut even that Is scarcely 50 offensive
o the eyes and sense a the pr0cl-ma-
JOBS Of penslon-keeper or a trades
nan set up on gigantic boards Dext O.
he KIalto or the Bridge OF Sighs. Not
ontent with advertising them alyea
where thcr reside, they do SO II se.-s0n
nd out of season Oh all kinds OF walls
'ith which the have nothing 10 do
nd the effects OF many OF the loveliest
Orners and finest views Of the CITY are
nus marred and made 70 resemble
be veslbule OF railway station or
he boarding ola building plot.
As yet the gondOlas sre ahoat.
Id, despite restoration, tramway
tesme-s. and puddiers' furnace.
enlce a. Yer remains -tse gayest, glad
est, most charming Of the cities OF
taiy. Here still e la pOesie des fOrmes
lent acheyer 10 poesie du jour. Tue
elIciOUs absence Of sOB1G-iOr IN this
-0rld Of waters the crie o. the sailors
Do fishermen come softencd 10 the
n the richness Of color II painted
lilB, and hlgb-iaden 't-bOats, and
s-iegated marbles, and vivid green
.iImbing wv or Of spreading ;acia
le sense Of liberty which comes with
le near presence Of the sea; the moon
ght nights filed with the echoes Of .
usic and the fragrance Of the flower
e isles ana gladi0lus-bordered water