Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-05
GOSSIP FROM VENICE.
Chat With One Of the Members of
Mr.. Carnegie's Coaching Trip.
A GAS CITY COUPLES ADVENTURE.
Frolie on the Water With Royal Party
as the Attraction.
AMERICAN STUDENTS ON TIE TRAMP
,conREsroNpENcr OF THE p1srAroH.,

| at the Cafe Florian with Felix Moschelles,
| an English artist, and son of the great mu-
sician of that name. He was accompanied
by his wife, who is German, but who
speaks English like daughter OF Albion,
and the rest of our party consisted of Mr..
and Mrs. M. B. Leisser, of your city. In
the first place I must say that Mr.. Mos
chelles is bosom friend OF Mr.. Carnegie,
and was a member of that memorable
| coaching trip which Mr.. Carnegie made
through the British Kingdom few years
ago. Mr.. Moschelles, with his wife, was in
| America during the Cleveland Presidential
campaign and painted a portrait of Mr..
| Cleveland and many others of the Demo-
cratic big wigs. He spoke very enthusiastic
ally of American hospitality, and at all the
| big cities which he visited reception after
reception was showered upon him until he
thought they were going to kill him with
| kindness.
He said Englishmen knew very little
about America, in fact, did not want to know
anything about it. Mr.. Moschelles, in
spite of his association with such a capi-
talist as Mr.. Carnegie, is a very prominent
| Socialist, and some of his theories for the
regeneration of his fellowman and the at
| tainment of the millennium are as ingenious
| as those of Mr.. Bellamy or Mr.. George.
Like his illustrious countryman, Charles
| Dickens, he thinks the American public
| heat their houses too much-he almost suffo-
Gated when there. He bears striking facial
| resemblance to Mr.. Blaine, especially in his
nasal organ. 1 believe he has written
book on America-what Englishman who
has travelled in the United States has not
done likewise?
~
Pittsburgers in the Mud.
Mr.. and Mrs. M. B. Leisser, who have
been for the past three months in Venice,
met with rather an unpleasant adventure a
few nights ago. 1t was nothing less than
their gondola, to speak vulgarly. getting
stuck in the mud at low tide in the lagoons,
and their being compelled to remain there
all night until the morning tide foated
them off, In the morning, in company with
another American, they hired a roomy lum-
bering craft which, in addition to its oars,
carried a sail for additional speed. 1t was
manned by two ancient mariners. They
started out to visit the island of Torcello,
one of the most famous islands in the Vene-
tian lagoons, and some five miles from
Venice. Torcello boasts of a splendid cath
edral. In its Piazza is the throne of Atilla,
an old stone arm chair. 1t is poor spot in
Italy that cannot boast OF some throne or
another-in fact these antiquities are the
principal means of livelihood of great mass
Of the population.
All went merry as a marriage bell until
on the return from Torcelly, when there was
a spanking breeze, and, with all sail set,
they bowled merrily before the breeze until
it increased almost to a hurricane This
necessitated the taking down of the sail and
the ancient mariners commenced to ply
their oars. Whether they got tired and
wanted rest or their old eyes failed them
in keeping the channel, cannot say, but
very soon they ran their craft into shallow
water and in a few minutes the receding
tide left them in the mud. All efforts to
get her off were unavailing and the party
had to make the best OF the contretemps
and rest all night In the boat. The sail was
wet and could afford them no protection
from the weather. Happily the ancient
mariners had a supply of old sacks on
board, and with these they managed to keep
comfortable during the night.
Mr.. and Mrs. Leisser depart in few
days tor Munich, and on the route are to
take in the Passion Play at Oberammagan.
They are yet undecided as to whether they
shall return to America this year. II not,
they intend to spend the winter in Paris.
They have seen good deal of Europe in
their wanderings of the past four years.
~
An Experience With Royalty.
A few evenings ago trim looking yacht
appeared in the harbor just opposite the
winged lion Of st. Marks. The fact of her
sporting the British colors and the appear
ance OF a score of unmistakable British tars
and redcoats promenading in the fashion
able st. Marks Square gave rise to the
rumor that there were some scions of En-
glish nobility on board. When the shades
OF night closed around the yacht the officials
on board produced some beautiful effects by
casting lime lights on the different edifces
and monuments which are the pride of Ven
ice. A company of strolliDg musicians who
every evening in a brilliantly illuminated
gondola make the tour Of the Grand Canal,
followed by some scores of other gondolas,
departed from their usual itineracy on this
evening, and instead serenaded royalty. In
consequence everybody who could hire a
gondola did so, and repaired with the
musicians to the yacht Surprise, for such
was her name, to gaze at, if not to honor,
royalty.
Our party, which included four irreverent
American art students, not much in awe of
royalty, but all the same curious to see how
royalty comported itself, also hired gon-
doia, and were soon in the midst of the fleet
which surrounded the Surprise. A part of
the deck of the yacht was formed into an in
closure brilliantly lighted up with electric
lights, and beautifully draped with the flags
OF the British Kingdom. In this inclosure
was little old lady dressed in black. By
her her side were two Enthusiastically good
looking daughters of Albion, about 25 years
O. age, surrounded by group of young men
in evening dress. NV friends said the little
old lady looked very much like the Queen
OF England, but 1 maintained that Her
Gracious Majesty counted more aviordupois.
The whole party talked very loudly, and, as
one of my companions remarked, seemed to
think that nobody else around understood
English. They all seemed to be having q |
right royal time.
The strolling musicians meanwhile dis |
coursed sweet strains and Italian songs, and |
royalty applauded. At length the lime |
light went out, the music ceased and one OF |
the musicians went up to the gangway of |
the yacht, held out his battered old hat and |
a pomrous. bald-headed Iunctionarv from |
the yacht, very likely the Imperial purse |
bearer, dropped a coin into it. The musi- |
clan still kept his hat extended and made a |
melton with his head as ii not satisfied with |
the royal donation, but the Imperial purse |
bearer also shook his Uranium and mumble6 |
something at which the musician restored |
his hat to his head and the royal gift to his |
pocket. He lett the onlookers to draw their |
conclusions about the size of the royal dona- !
tion. Another musician then proceeded to |
make a collection among the pIebeian |