Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-02-27
BRIDGE OF SIGNS At VENICE.
The Famous Archwny Around which no
nance Thiokly Clusters.

IA Famous Archwny Around which Ro-
nance Thiokly Clusters.
In tho heart Of Venice, between the
magnificent palace Of the dogea and the
grim walls Of the old prison, flow the
dark waters Of the Rio del Palazzo and
across the canal stretches tho Bridge Of
Sighs-eonnecting link between the
aplendors Of a 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 Il is closed in, thus proving
all stories Of suicides committed from
Il to be fabulous.
This fact robs the Bridge Of Signs Of
n 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 It.
From without the bridge, with its arch
like form, its ornamental stonework, its
grotesquely carved heads and it's small
square windows filled In with iron trac-
cry, presents a rather fne appearance,
but the interior Is strictly devoid Of or
nament and has not the LiRhtest pre-
tensions 70 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 va passed over the
Bridge Of Signs on our way to the
gloomy cells. The bridge seemed 70 be
little more than q narrow passage be-
tween two thick walls Of stone, and IN
less you stepped up onto the slightly
raised stonewoTk which runs along be-
meath the tiny windows on either side
and caughta glimpse Of the canal with
out you might easily take it for an ordi-
nary passage within the palace. AZ the
far end Of the bridge progress wa
barred by a grim looking oaken door
nail studded, age blRckened and Of i'm
mense Misunderstanding the entrance
TO the dungeons. Our guides came to a
halt. There was q lingling Of keys, q
lighting Of torches; then the great door
swung slowly back, aud we passed. into
the darkness beyond. When nsxt we
passed the ancient door and crossed tho
Bridge of Signs, it was with the memory
Of those terrible cells, those fearful dun
geons where the hapless prisoners en-
dured the most horrible tortures that
tyranny could devise or brutality in
fict.
/ remember strolling, on the last
evening Of our holiday In Venice, along
the Piazza San Marco and making my
way 70 the Ponte della Paglia to take a
farewell look at the Bridge Of Signs. 1t
was a summer evening, hot and sultry,
while the fast gathering clouds, dense
and inky, betokened an approaching
storm. ! had inst reached the Ponte
della Paglia and was gazing at the
Bridge of Signs when a tremendous
peal Of thunder rent the heavens, SEEM
ing to shake tho city to it's very founda-
tions with it's violence.
Suddenly a 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 its
tTacoried windowsI then all seemed
dark. And this was the last l saw of
the Bridge OF Sighs. Newcastle Chron-
icle.