Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-05-10
BRIDGE OF sleHs AT VENICE.
The Famous Archwsy Around which Ro'
nance Thickly Clusters.

Ino dmOus AfcnNny ArOunu Nhlcn no
nance Thiokly Clusters.
In the heart of Venice, between the
magnificent palace Of the doges and the
grim walls of the old prison, flow the
dark waters Of the Rio del Palazzo and
across the canal stretches the Bridge of
Sighs--connecting link between the
splendors of palace and the terrors OF
the dungeon, the torture chamber and
the heading block. One Of the most no.
ticeable points about this bridge is the
fact that 1t is closed in, thus proving
all stories of suicides committed from
1t to be fabulous.
This fact rcbs the Bridge Of Sighs OF
one of its most romantic associations
OF Its pretty legends Of grief laden NOR
tails heaving their last sigh upon its
parapet and ending their sorrowing
lives in the black waters beneath IL.
From without the bridge, with its arch
like form, its ornamental stonework, its
grotesquely carved heads and its small
square windows filed in with iron trac-
cry, presents a rather fine appearance,
but the interior il strictly devoid Of or
nament and has not the slightest pre-
tensions to beauty. .
During our visit to Venice of course
we included the doges palace and the
dungeons In our programme. After
wandering for some time through the
vast halls and beautiful saloons of the
old Venetian palace we passed over the
Bridge Of Sighs on our way to the
gloomy cells. The bridge seemed to be
little more than narrow passage be-
tween two thick walls of stone, and un.
less you stepped up onto the slightly
raised stonework which runs along be.
meath the tiny windows on feither side
and caught glimpse of the canal with.
out you might easily take II for an ordi-
nary passage within the palace. AT the
far end of the bridge our progress was
barred by grim looking oaken door
nail studded, age blackened and OF i'm
mense guarding the entrance
to the dungeons. Our guides came TO a
halt There was Jingling Of keys, a
lighting of torches; then the great door
swung slowly back, aud we passed into
the darkness beyond. When next we
passed the ancient door and crossed the
Bridge of Sighs, 1t was with the memory
Of those terrible cells, those fearful dun
geons where the bapless prisoners en-
dured the most horrible tortures that
tyranny could devise or brutality in
fiict.
/ remember strolling, on the last
evening Of our holiday in Venice, along
the Piazza San Marco and making my
way to the Ponte della Paglia to take a
farewell look at the Bridge of Sighs. II
was a summer evening, hot and sultry,
while the fast gathering clouds, dense
and inky, betokened an approaching
storm. had just reached the Ponte
della Paglia and was gazing at the
Bridge of Sighs when tremendous
peal of thunder rent the heavens, SEEM
ing to shake the city to its very founda-
tions with it's violence.
Suddenly binding flash of lightning
lit up the palace, bridge and dungeons
with its lurid fare. For an instant the
bridge stood out with dazzling distinct
ness, while the lightning played on iti
traceried windows; then all seemed
dark. And this was the last saw Of
the Bridge of Sighs. s.-Newcastle ChroD
icle.