Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-23
BEAUTIFUL VENICE.
One Of the Most Ideal Cities Nan
Ever Built.
SEEN AT THE SEASONS HEIGHT.
THE Riches Of Art and Nature-The
I Gondolas and the Pigeons of ~.
{ Mark's-A BcwiIdcring Experience.
Smoking u "vfrginia."

Especial Correspondence OF the Dispatch)
VENICE. May so.-ThIs is the height
Of the season here. and the city Is over
run with visitors. There are moro this
1ear than usual the increase being largely
xue to a much-adver;ised art exhibition
being held here. and partly. should say.
40 the fact that a great many young
couples have chosen this IDEAL place for
nheir honeymoons. where. on the canals.
Nhey have the moons reflection and the
Soft ripple OF the water, and on land the
srooing OF hundreds OF pigeons.
With the general run OF tourists how
ever. II is old Venice herself that IS the
attraction. and these she never disap-
NoInts. whatever she may have in store
Sor the others. Her charms are not only
sainique, owing to her exceptional position,
but they are sufficiently varied TO appeal
40 multitude Of tastes.
1 Here you have one Of the most ideal.
INTERESTING cities that man ever built. set
amidst great stretches OF beautiful,
smooth water. and glorious skies: mans
work and natures seeming 10 harmonic
Sexactly, and each to lend charm TO the
'pther.
Man contributes the beauties OF archi-
1ectural design, grouping. and color, and
all the interesting life and movement on
vhe lagoon and canals. and in every little
street and square. 1T Is always entertain
Ting TO watch these mixed crowds. There
Is the picturesque. frowsy little native
woman. with her yoke OF copper water
buckets across her shoulders. next TO the
lady from the Grand Hotel. in one of the
most immaculate outfits that her half
dozen trunks will furnish. and old men
from the lagoons with compilations like
veteran meerschaums, alongside OF sweils
from New York and London
THE GONDOLAS.
Then there are the graceful gondolas and
picturesque boats. large and small. always
lending beauty 70 the scene. whether
moving or at rest. adding their reflections
TO the thousand other mrrored in the
canals.
Nature. on her part, furnishes these
Hrand mirrors. and she furnishes also the
glowing sunsets and all the innumerable
changes Of light and shade that give the
reflections and produce these world-re-
nowned Venetian effects. You may con-
template the beauties OF nature and the
works OF man entirely apart from each
other, or you may take them together,
choosing scenes that partake more or
less OF either. according to your mood.
You can go into the piazza. where you
will be shut off from ell sight OF the
water, and entirely surrounded by hand
some buildings. one OF them matchless
jewel of marbles and mosaics. Here you
will be In the midst of modern shops.
busting cafes. and crowds. and life and
fashion. or you may take the gondola
and drift laz!ly away, where no distract
ing sound will interrupt your reveries,
while continual feast for the eye Is ever
before you In whatever direction you may
look.
THE PIGEONS OF ST MARKS.
The plgeous or st. Marks are con-
Btant source of pleasure TO all, especially
90 the ladies and children. They used 20
be fed at the city's expense. Now, i
believe. they are provided for by fund
left by some one for their regular support
besides being stuffed with food by the
tourists. Corn FOR the purpose is sold
near by in convenient packages They
Will flock around you, and many Will light
on you and eat out of your hand. 1t Is
q lovely sight to see some rosy tot with
supply OF corn, entirely surrounded by
them. Perhaps. just as she has gotten
little hand something will startle them,
and they will all fly up and around her
ears with such whir that she will be
much the worst frightened one of the
party. When the gun on St GiorgiO
Naggiore. in the harbor IS fired at noon,
every pigeon jumps up and flies around
the Piazza like his head was afre," al
though he had heard the same gun go
Of at the same time every day since he
VAS Matched. The birds produce a be-
Hildering sight Of wings going In every
direction. and then In a minute they all
iettle down again
Tho Piazza has offered an additional at
traction during the last few days. This
was the appearance every hour Of the
automatic figures of the big clock, which
only occurs at the time OF important
church festivals. They began on Ascen-
sion-Day and kept IL up for several days
AS soon as the hour had finished striking
u door would open and figures OF the
three Magl, preceded by an angel. would
pass in procession before the Madonna
on the front Of the clock-tower. AS each
figure came In front of the Virgin and
Child Il would salute them. the angel
merely raising its trumpet. but each of
rhe Magl bowling and slightly raising his
crown or turban. Often the piazza IN front
Of the tower would be crowded with reo-
pie waiting TO see the figures come out,
and when the door would open ond the
procession appear the small children
would fairly dance with delight, and l
even know one biz one that always en-
soyed It,
A BEWlLDERING EXPERIENCE.
One may go all over Venice on foot, but
be will have 10 refer TO his map about
every other minute, ind even then he will
often go wrong. The plainest route that
your best friend ran describe 10 you
VIII be about Ike the one that Launcelot
gives old Gabbo for finding Shylock's
house: Turn up on your right hand at
the next turning. but, az the next turning
OF all. on your left: marry. at the very
next turning turn OF no hand. hut turn
down indirectly 20 he Jews house" This
turning indirectly" you viii find by far
thogeneral rule.
The canals, except n very few Instances,
have no walkway alongside of them. the
houses on both sides rising directly from
thc water You ross canal every few
minutes, and each line you cave % stop
10 look az the scene on citne' side OF the
htue bridge and divide your admiration
between The beauty Of the picture and
the shin OF The sonlolsers passing below
you.
or course. all this pictu-csqueness makes
venice perfect paradise for artists o, all
tisdes. You See umld amateurs trying
'hef hania IN remote corners while the
more confident professionals do whole
'each OF The Grand Canal. with gordolas
saioIe IN the foreground. aIl lots Of
"lssy reflections In the water
In The evening sou SIT ~ front OF one
81 me cafes IN the Piazza. sio some
th,hs reireshmsat and listen to the
band while you ~moke your ''roscara"
o. virginia" for that is what they call
'heir fayorite brand all over Italy.
SMOKING y VIRGINIA.
theso "Nlrginas" are between seven