Omaha daily bee., 1893-10-01


But while only doves are the live pets Of
the city, there are four magnificent bronze
horses over the portals of st. Marks, facing
TINS square, and which are no doubt the
most valuable steeds in the world. At least
one gets this idea from the proud Venetian.
as he dilates on their interesting history.
These four rome horses, while priceless TO
the city, are "A historical quartet Of no mean
record.
Their exact origin seems unknown, but it
IS Claimed that they were carried from
Egypt TO Rome centuries ago, where it is
known they for a long time adorned the top
OF one OF the noble arches of the forum,
from where Constantine carried them to
Constantinople. In 1905 they were taken
from Constantinople, the Turkish capital. to
Venice by Marino Jeuo, where they re-
manned uuditsurbed until 1877, when
Napoleon J. arrived in Venice, as ne had a
way OF doing, sooner or later, in each CAPT
tai OF Europe. In that year the bronze
bea lties were carried TO Paris and placed
on the arch dc Trlumphe in the Place de
Carrousel, which beautiful structure was
modelled after the arch of Seyerus at Rome.
In 1906 Napoleon began the arch &c
Trimphe FEtoile, the most magnificent tri-
umphal arch in the whole world, and
these bronze horses were to adorn its splen-
d1d height. But disaster come upon the
mighty Corsican, and In 1913, when a general
adjustment of affairs took place, when Paris
yielded back TO other cities their treasures
so ruthlessly carried away BY that despoiler,
the bronze horses were carried back TO Venice
TO the delight of that city, and replaced over
the portal where they now stand.
Notable Churches.
Venice, like nearly every other European
capital, and especially the capitals-of Italy,
abounds in fine aud interesting churches. If
the church is not famous for its architect
urc, its marbles, its windows, then it will be
monuments or paintings. Each one is a
treasure In architecture or its priceless con-
tents. Here. besides St. Marks. are thir-
teen fine churches, deserving of note, of de-
scription, as well as many of only local in
terest. San Zamipalo is interesting from
the fact that it was the former burial place
OF the Doges. Many of their are
to be seen. The church of the Jesuits is
famous for its interior, its walls being COW
cred with limitations of drapery, all in white
marble inlaid with green. 'San Roco." one
OF the three most precious buildings in Italy,
the Sistine Chapel at Rome and the Campo
Santo Of Pisa being the others, Is notable
for the siNty-two pictures painted on it's
walls by Tintoretto. There is such poor
light that the pictures can only be seen in
the early morning. 1t is said they were all
painted for their places in the dark and are,
Tor the most part, only vast sketches, made
10 produce under a favorable or certain de-
gree of shadow the effect of finished pic
lures. They are unique productions, and
none but Tintoretto would have undertaken
the task. In none of his other works did he
betray such exalted powers Tn Church of
the trari contains au elegant monument to
Titan, also tomb and monument of the great
Canova, IRON q design of his own, besides
many other fine monuments and q few fine
paintings.
Owing to the wealth of beauty in church
possession, numerous galleries and libraries,
stupendous palaces, IA large number of
which, as well as the finest, are situated on
the Grand canal. many of tho lorppSt con-
verified into hotels, the gondolas and water
ways which are so strange and fascinating,
one seems TO drift on dreaming away the
days, lost in visions of the tune when the
whole world paid homage to this bride Of
the sea and potentates feared her frown
It. Is difficult to rouse ones self to a state of
real activity that would take one through
the great slace factories and glass works,
where such marvellous skill and patience
are displayed, to study the problem of in
dustrial life in this peculiar center. In the
lace works nearly all engaged in any de-
partment are women and girls. Some of
he best latent are paid IL and Ia cents n
day. Their hours are eight to six, their quar-
tiers are neat, light and comfortable, and in
nearly ali cases the workers seem content
and happy, and in every case as well and
neatly dressed as are persons employed in
an American establishment at So and 50 per
week. The managers of these factories are
delighted to receive a call from strangers,
h'N pbO hhh DlOuud lu
happy to show one through the various de-
partments, displaying patterns, explaining
methods, describing the merits of one school
after another, showing the marvellous
pieces in finished state and answering
questions. The work is so beautiful, en-
ploying the use only of steady eye and
dexterous fingers of patient women as they
SIT on their chairs, bent over the cushion
held on the lap, that one cannot but feel it
Is really easy and nice to make lace. This
ind ntrv 30 ado th@ Al
queen, who not only appreciates the
exquisite art for its beautiful products, but
the fact that the thousands must be en-
ployed. Each avenue must be watched, de-
veloped and utilized. Lace making gives
home, food and clothing to the toilers.
The glass works employ several women.
They enamel, design and do many fine parts
in that line, To see perfectly exquisite
glass one must view the products Of Venice.
The display of finished pieces, in fact the
fruit of the factory, is Dewildering in not
only design, colors and purpose, but t%ineness,
purity, utility. Even splendor may be en-
HANGED by this perfect fabric.
Historic Buildin s..
One cannot make Venice seem real. He
looks upon the palace of Desdemona, that of
Byron, the Brownings, then visits the great
Ducal palace, the work of Venice, which
Ruskin tells us for a long series of years
employed her best architects in its masonry,
her best artists in It's decoration and stands
as the effort of her Imagination. and feels
that IL is all a shadowy dream. This Gothic
Ducal palace was begun in 1901 and finished
In 1923. 1t has suffered from two great fires
-l4D and l574-after which all was per-
fectly restored, and the prisons across the
canal and the Bridge of Signs leading to
them, were added. The entrance to the
palace is by the Scala del Giganti, or
Giants staircase of white marble, and shows
two colossal statues. The interior is a rich
gallery of Venetian art. The great council
hall, one Of the largest in the world, con-
tains the portraits Of ~seventy-five of the
se~venty-siX Doges, and Lintorretto's great
Paradise, the largest oil painting in the
world.
One visits a few of the dungeons where
were confined those doomed to punishment.
They are of low ceiling, of brick, stone and
mortar; cold, damp ana as dark as the cata-
combs. In one of the tiny corridors between
the cells yet remains the threshold on which
the prisoners head was placed for decapita-
tlon, the Hastings still attached TO the wall,
the floor or pavement the same. over which
the blood of untold numbers has washed.
The Bridge Of Signs is of no particular merit
at all, and of a late period owing its interest
To its name and TO a kind of ignorant SEN
timentalism of Byron. The author, W. ID.
Howells, somewhere terms it, "1hat pathetic
swindle, the Bridge of Signs"
The Picturesque.
To see and enjoy some of the summer
amusements of these qdiet people. music
loving and joyous natured as they are, n
g.,tAl ...lI A.A. -