The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-07-21
A GAY GONDOLIER.
One of the Worlds Fair Boatmen Takes .
Quiet Swim.

NulcL S"lhs
Divinely picturesque and eminently
attuned to their artistic environment,
perfecting the beauty of the cameo set
ting of the magnificent palaces lining
the shimmcring lagoons, the gondoliers
are feature eminent among the novel
alluring spectacles at the great expo
sition.
Chioago's erratic knight of the bar
ometer and the festive forecast having
graciously meted out an acceptable ar
ticle of weather from his treasure house
during, the last few days, the gay gen
tlemen from Venice have been given an
opportunity to shine resplendent in all
their finery of raiment and bask in the
smiles of fair maidens reclining on
the cushions of the gondolas, who see
in each handsome wielder of the long
oars a possible duke or count.
The weather being as near an ap-
proach to the Venetian article as the
gondoliers have yet experienced, they
were in particularly bright and hap
py mood. Before the crowd arrived to
distract their minds with the seductive
jingling of hard and shining coins they
reclined IN the sunshine near the piers
where their fairy-like craft are moored,
rolled cigarettes listened dreamily to
the music floating over the lagoon from
the bandstands and discussed the COM
parative' merits of gondoling and run
ming peanut stands.
From all that could be gathered from
scraps of the conversation, the senti-
ment was unanimous in favor of the
former.
Standing on one of the bridges and
watching the boats glide so smoo thly
along, with the parti-colored hangings
trailing in the clear waters and the gay
gondoliers softly singing in time to the
rhythmic sweep of the oars, one would
think that the romantic-looking oars
man lived in a Venetian palace, with
its thresholds touching the water and
its latticed easements half-concealing
divers and various dark-eyed Italian
beauties, to whom. in accordance with
the tradition and romance, the Condo
liers, when off watch, would offer their
hearts and hands In rounded verse to
the accompaniment of lutte, a guitar or
at least harmonica.
But they don't.
Down on the west bank of the south
pond stands a lowly frame cottage,
rough and unpainted. The most ro-
mantle observer would never for a mo-
ment connect it with the trailing oars
or softly snlashing water. 1t is more
red61ent of the soil, more suggestive of
the festive lumber shower or the equal
ly unostentatious sewer-digger. And
here the gondoliers live, move and have
their being.
Shortly after the gilt head of Diana
had begun to glisten in the sunlight
this morning gondolier stepped out Of
the cottage and walked to the edge of
the lagoon. He wore not the gay livery
which illumes the gondolas later on,
merely an undress uniform and PEN
sive air of melancholy. AS he gazed at
the water it was evident that he was
filled with wild longing to Vndless even
more yet and try q plunge in the
lagoon. AT length his determination
became fixed, he hastily disrobed and
moment later took a flying leap into
the water, instantly and irrevocably
fraoturiag regulation "No. 14S67" for
the guidance of visitors and employees.
Any one wishing to use water in any
form on the fair grounds must use that
furnished by concessionahe from
Wisconsin or incur the dine penalty of
walking behind q Columbian guard for
saAe distance and possible incarcera-
tion in the cold-storage building or the
Chinese theater.
Hardly had the splash made by the
audacious gondoller died away when
there was a Fun ON the bank and a
guard was on hand.
'Ceme out of that, now, yez murther-
in dago, or I'll run yez in," was his
salutation.
The gondolier grinned and quietly
replied: ISL, CalcimiAe Re Illustra
elochio este hontevarda," or words to
that effect.
Then the gondolier calmly pursued
his sinuous course down the lagoon, ia-
noring the guard, who almost devel
oped Mysteries en shore. A few moments
later ON an alarm whistle sounded near
by, the guard rushed to respond and
the gay gondolier quietly swain to the
bank, gathered ap his clothes and stole
iato the little cottage with smile
which spoke volumes. Chicago Record