The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-16


to the right we entered the Piszzetta dc San
Marco or smaller square Of st. Mark. We as
cended the campsnile to the chimes, and from,
the balcony had grand view of the city and
cemetery beyond. Far to the north were the
Alps, and the snowy SUBMITS of the higher
peaks were distinctly To the west and
south were the Apennines, further away thar
the Alps, but plainly seen. TO
the pride of Venice, the great cathedral OF San
Marco with its five domes and its four bronze
horses in the arch over the entrance. It fronts
the piazza or square OF st. Mark, and IS directly
behind the Ducal or Doges Palace, which fronts
south on the Grand Canal. After admlring the
domes and minarets, the brilliant mosaic
pictures colors the front of the cathedral,
, We entered It, The interior is vast and impos-
ing, but while IL 10 more picturesque and brill
liant. as BELTS its more oriental people and sky,
it lacks the grandeur and dignity Of the great
Gothic cathedral at Cologne. and the impression
made upon the mind Is less serious and weighty.
The Doges palace came next in order, and We
proceeded thithsr. Through the court and mp
into the porch or piazza brought US 10 the
entrance doors, each side of which was a
narrow slit in the WALL formerly used for de-
posting charges and accusations against ene-
mics. l forgot to mention that the stairs lead
ing up to tho entrance from the court below are
called the Giants steps or staircase, as colossal
statues of Mars and Neptune stand at the top
and here all tho Doges were crowned and here
the head Of Marine Faliero was cut of by order
name was forcibly recalled to my mind as
stood there, and especially the concluding lines
THE CORY head rolls down the giants steps"
But we entered the portals. climbed the stair
case and visited the hall Of the Great Council,
the largest single room in Europe, unless it be
the royal ballroom at Amsterdam. Around the
frieze are hslf-length portraits of seventysix of
the doges, and where Falieros would have APP
peared is black scroll veil painted on the
wall, and upon 1t 10 gilt letters
Hic est locus Marni Falieri
Decapitati pro criminibus.
We saw the chamber Of the mysterious Conn-
ell of Ten, that of the more terrible Council OF
Three and here in the wall was another slit for
secret accusations Then We descended, and
through a narrow door crossed the celebrated
Ponte del Sospiri or Bridge of Signs, which is
covered passage-wsy leading over O narrow
canal from the palace to the prison. The poor
prisoner was brought from prison
over this bridge or covered way, and in each
side there two small grated windows, and
here from one OF them be took parting look at
the world. aud then passed along to the room OF
his trial Ths trial, Of course, was a mere farce.
and none ever escaped as mot gpilty.' From
the chamber Of trial the prisoner was sent across
down a narrow fight of stone steps into the
dungeon. We entered these-there are two
stories, and oil are dark small and horribly dis
mai.
We were thrilled through and through as we
looked in and upon these scenes Of trial and
suffering, and IL those old walls had voices,
what walls, and cries and denunciations, mixed
with recitals Of wrong and tyranny, We might
have heard Thank God, this dark and shame
full night of terror and cruelty is over. and the
sun of Italian liberty shines Venezias blue
sky. From night We gladly escaped, and
assembled to day. and beauty greeted our ewes
everywhere as We again entered
the court of the Palazzo San Marco.
above US, on the chequered pavements az our
feet the gondolas were skimming over the
water; and over all, and down upon ALL through
the clear air, shone the hot Italian sun. We
turned to the left aud passed down the Riva degli
Schiavonia towards the hotel, for it was lunch
time. Our way led q bridge, which
spanned the canal between the palace and the
prison, and. looking up the canal, saw the ex-
terror Of the Bridge of Signs and stopped 10
notice its outer appearance. It is archtd, made
of white marble, and ornamented. How differ
ent its interior There were the two small win
dows from which so many sad eyes had looked
upon Venetian skies for the last time-but the
thought was TOO oppressive, and passed on.
AUG. 10.-l hardly know now TO describe the
grand fiesta and procession OF gondoas on the
Grand Canal. A squadron OF Spanish ships Of
war had arrived day or two before, and the
Venetians, who fond of display, prepared
for them a grand sereuade and reception. A
floating pavilion with a dome-shaped top and
ornan entail sides had been constructed, and il
WAS covered al. over with globes OF various
coiors, chiefly red ard white. each globe con-
tanning n wax candle, and when all we're lighted
the Ell ect was brilliant and beautiful steam
trg "a wonderfully noisesess oue drew
IL slowly along, and il was pro
ceeded, surrounded and followed by
multitude OF gopdolas, and the palazZos each
aide the canal were successfully illumined as
the pavilion of honor passed them. with colorsd
Bengoa lights, making a weird aud picturesque
scene. as the white walls and fronts OF the ral-
aces took the hues of the ntcolored lights
marble arch ana terrace rising one above the
other from the waters edge until the whole
seemed like fairyland. The old Rislto. thus set
on ire by crimson glow, was marvelously
beautiful iu the still Venetian night aud during
the entire progress OF the procession the pavil-
ion resounded with music and song But
the most striking scene of all 10 me was
when. after each halt, the pavilion began 20
move. the gondoliers sprsng TO their feet, aud.
standing on their decks, seized their long scull-
inc oars. aud with their musical cries began
pushing forward their graceful barks. Their
movements were very graceful. All had on
their best attire. aud their cries seemed be all
cheerful and III they lost temper and swore at
each other at all, it was in such graceful and
liquid Italian that nobody could object AS the
tapers died out they were replaced by others,
and 30 the illumination was maintained and the
song aud music of bands was kept up until at
midnight We gave orders to our gon-
dolier TO return, and OF We went
AS we passed down from the canal into the Ia
guna the dazzling electric search lights of one
far ahead, and the stars OF falling rockets
twinkled in the Italian sky
IL was ! o'clock when We reached our landing
place, and Diminishing our guard with extra
gratuity 'poppe" for 'pourboirer we sought
orr rooms and so ended our fiesta night on the
Grand Canal in Venice, Bride of the Sea-
CHARLES z. JACOBS.