The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-02
VENETIAN GONDoLIERs.
Handsome, Well-Develope Men with Pict-
uresque Costumes.

uACSY0V OO6ludAOos
Lucy Hooper's Letter.
1t is an odd experience to live in a city where
no horse sets its foot, and through whose streets
no cab or carriage ever passes. You may walk
all over Venice if you like, but you cannot drive
an inch. She affords ample accommodation for
the pedestrian, but her streets have no road
ways, being all sidewalk. From this novel
state of affairs the tourist at least derives one
advantage-he is freed from the plague Of cab
men. The Venetian gondoliers resemble the
ordinary Jehus that they replace about as much
as a dragon-fy does a dung beetle. They are a
hardy, active. CHEEKY set of men, civil and oblig-
ing, limbed like Greek statues and graceful as
greyhounds. John of Bologna might KAYE
nodded his Incompatible Mercury from
one of these lithe-limbed, sinewy oarsmen. Their
fine development of form is due to their occupa-
ton, their habit Of rowing standing, developing
and exercising every muscle in the frame from
throat to heel. AS aclass they are the cleanlieSt
set of men to be found amongst the lower orders
of Europe. The watery ways on which their
days are spent send up no cloud of dust or
dashes of mud to sully their neat and picturesque
attire. Their hands and faces. bronzed to as
dusky a tint as the sun and the wind can posi-
bly, lmpart to the human epidermis, and their
crisp, curly dark locks. are as free from soil and
as we'll kept as are those Of any high bred gen.
tleman. The costume of a gondolier of the
better class would be a handsome one to adopt
for a fancy-dresS ball, since it is very char
acteristic, and yet simple and sufficiently
in accordance with a gentleman's everyday suit
to be worn without awkwardness 1t consists
of a loose double breasted jacket of dark blue
cloth with trousers to match. The jacket is
closed with two rows of large, highly-rollshed
brass buttons, and is bound around tho edges
and around the cuffs and collar and pockets
with cloth of q blue two shades lighter than
the hue of the garment itself. A glazed sailors
hat, around the crown of which is passed a
ribbon of the lighter shade of blue, with long,
floating ends, forms the headgear. Sometimes
a felt hat, with a melon shaped crown. the brim
curving deeply over the brow and at the back of
the head, is adopted, but the ribbon is
never absent. A sash of cloth, matching the
jacket and trousers, and with long ends finished
with wide worsted fringe, is tied around the
waist, the ends falling at the left side. Some
times the jacket is piped with red, or with the
same dark blue as the cloth whereof it is com
posed; but the style ] have just described is the
most usual, and is also the ~prettiest. 1t opens
at the throat. showing a collar and white neck
tie, both scrupulously clean, as are also the
white cuffs visible beneath the loose sleeves. the
linen being coarse in quality, but of snowy
whiteness. I have been told that the same
dainty ~neatness prevails in their homes. and that
a gondolier's ordinary meal of fried fish and
polenta is served on as spotless a tablecloth. and
with knives. and forks. and plates, and glasses
as we'll washed and shining as are similar ar
ticles in a palace.