The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-07-24
IN FAIR VENICE.
The Great Cathedral and Its
Surroundings.
A Palm in Marble-Ths Watering Place o
Ledo-Pictures For the
Worlds Fair.

The following extracts from letter to
Salt Lake lady by Mrs. Mary ClswsoE,
now studying in Venice, will be read with
interest and pleasure by the many friends
of both the young people. II is now more
than two years since Mr.. Clawson left Salt
Lake to pursue his studies in France and
Italy
VENICE. ABBAziA S. GREaoEIA,
June O. 1892.
My Dearest
1t has been Z long time since wrote you,
but our preparations for moving from
Paris to Venice with WHIPS class took SO.
much time, that all my correspondence fell
behind. What we have gone through all
seems like a beautiful dream. Our
journey here was simply delightful,
especially through the Alps. We
stopped one day and night in Milan
and were perfectly charmed with
the city and the Italian people, whom we
found very good natured, kind and polite.
OF course the first thing we did was to go
to the cathedral, that beautiful, wonderful
building of pure white marble that looks In
the moonlight like fairy castle Of frost
work, so delicate, so airy and so unreal did
it appear TO our wondering eyes. We had
read and seen pictures of this great cathe-
dral, but one can form no idea of its
grandeur unless one seesit. We wandered
around IL until after 10 O'Clock; then re-
tired to our hotel. Next morning we were
up at 6 80 and went to see the cathedral by
daylight. We found 1t more beautiful than
ever. Just Think there are over 1000
marble statues on the outside of this build
ing. On the great steeple, on the ninety
eight spires, inside the spires, over the
doors and windows, in hooks and corners,
everywhere that niche can be found,
there is q marble statue. They were
carved by Raphael, Angelo. Canova or
their pupils, and every statue is full Of
beauty and grace, every face full Of ex-
preston. There are besides 1900 BIAS re-
llefs, illustrating incidents in the Bible.
cannot attempt to describe this poem in
marble. They call it the eighth wonder Of
the world, and say 1t is second only to st.
Peters at Rome, but l will not believe it
second to anything made by human beings.
We left Milan with regret, for we both
liked 1t better than any city we have seen
since we left our dear home in the noun
tains. After passing through some lovely
scenery, we arrived In Venice about 9 In
the evening. WHIPS professor met US and
took US to small hotel, where we
passed the night. Next morning he came
for Us in gondola and we went to look for
rover, finding one at very reasonable
rate-Niving couldn't be higher here than
it is in Paris) on the Grand canal. The
house we live in was once an old monas-
terry, and is consequently very interesting.
There is an old court connected with
it, that is very beautiful, and every day
there are five or six artists sketching in it.
This court is one of the sights of Venice
and tourists come there by the dozen every
day. Ruskin, in his "Storles Of Venice
describes 1t as the most charming court In
this charming city. We go to a restaurant
for our dinner, then walk in the Piazza ST.
Marco a little while, and then
come home, which Is the best place
after all. We are Just opposite the largest
hotel and every night there are gondolas
full OF singers who sing the lovely Italian
songs under the hotel windows until mid
night. We often SIT in our window and
listen till we almost fall asleep with the
deliciousness of the sounds. You can't
imagine how lovely 1t is to be awakened by
the strains we hear; it sounds more beauti-
full in Venice than anywhere else 10 the
world, the water seems TO mellow and
soften the sound. Our pastiine is to hire
gondola and go for a row in the evening,
and about all the pocket money
can spare goes that way
Once week we 90 to the Ledo, q small
island in the Adriat1c, not far from Venice,
and take a bath in the sea. The children
are learning TO swim and are doing very
well; they are down in the great court now
playing with some Venetian children; they
and we find Italian Inuch easier than
French. Ledo puts me in mind of our own
dear lake; the pavilion and pier are ever SO
much like those at Garfield Beach. It
only costs franc and q half go cents) to
go out to the Ledo and back on a steamer,
and bathroom. bathing suit and bath are
included The ride out there alone is worth
the money VIII takes his sketch book along
and in that way ne loses no time. He Is
improving greatly in coloring since he be-
gan studying here. Living is very cheap
in Venice. One pound of lovely cherries
only costs 5 cents. Every morning L go
down to the Rialto, the big bridge that
crosses the grand canal, aud occupied with
two rows Of stores the very place where
old Shylock used to do his money loaning.
There get enough for dinner very cheap, |
and with the aid of an alcohol stove fire. |
quently get meal at home instead of going
to the restaurant. Just across the canal |
is the palace where Desdamona lived. loved |
and died, and often sit in the window and |
imagine she is there still. We saw two |
pictures of Othello and Desdamona
showing her leaning on one of those
balconies. They are to go to Chicago, and |
they are simply beautiful. Yesterday |
took the children to the ducal palace, across
the Bridge of Signs. We went all through |
the horrible dungeons the children had
been reading about and you can imagine
their delight.
We hear much about Salt Lakers who
will come over to Europe from the Worlds
fair next year, and we hope ever so much
to be able to return home with some OF
them.