The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1895-06-22

which lie filled with the means and signs
OF the doomed, and pass out into the
sunlight of the palace court and rest
upon the bronze curb OF the well. The
change from the awful dungeon dark
ness to the bright sunlight is most
agreeable and refreshing.
The cathedral of st. Marks was found
ed in he 9th century by Doge Giustin-
Iano Partecipazio. The name OF the
founder is certainly sufficient TO warrant
il being an edifice OF some beauty.
The church is in the form OF a Greek
cross, each arm surmounted by a dome.
The roof is topped with many spir and
gives to the pile very oriental appear
ance. The facade facing the Piazza
presents a most gorgeous array OF golden
arches supported by beautiful marble col
umns brought from the East. At mid
day. when the sunlight glitters upon it,
or at midnight when the lamps give it
light, its splender may be better imag
ined than described. 1t is like pic
ture in fairyland.
On the gallery above the central door
stand four bronze horses, beautiful
works OF art, perhaps by the hand OF
Praxitiles. In 1897 Napoleon took them
to Paris where they adorned the Arc
du Carrousel. They were restored to
Venice in 1915.
The interior of the church is OF ex-
ceedihg richness. the pavement being OF
tessellated marble, the supporting
columns of beautiful marble and the
vaulting OF mosaic upon ground OF
gold. The mosaics represent scenes
from the old testament and do APP
year to us fearfully and wonderfully
made. Some OF these decorations OF the
18th and 10th century are extremely
hideous and even CHASTITY. | call to
mind head OF Christ with intense
staring eyes and gaping mouth. Under
an arch is the Creation of the World"
and again, The Deluge-mosaicsf fashion
ed from small bits OF various colored
stone, firmly set in the vaulting. On
close inspection they appear mere
jangle OF color, bat distance here lends
enchantment. Although some OF the
mosaics OF this wonderful church are
monstrous in themselves. yet they appear
not out OF place, and as a whole, give
the interior most gorgeous air. The
marble pavement is undulating in many
places. and one is obliged to step with
some degree Of care or he may stub his
toe. Difficulty arises when one becomes
seriously interested in the mosaics and
attempts to take another step or two to
get different view OF the subject.
The high altar stands under canopy
of verd antique supported by four
columns of Greek marble. Behind this
lies the body of ST. Mark. Near by are
two transparent alabaster spiral columns
said to have come from Solomons
temple. In the treasury is a small
crystal vase containing the Saviours
blood. also fragment of the pillar to
which the Saviour was bound, piece of
the skull Of st. John and chair said to
have been used by st. Mark. These are
interesting because you see the very
same things in almost every cathedral
in Europe.
Just back of the high altar is the
Pala dioro, or altar piece wrought in
enamel and jewels upon plates of gold
and silver.
vice OF high mass held for one who on
his death left large sum of money for
the occasion every year. The church
was full of people and there must have
been some two or three hundred priests
taking part in the service The music
was very beautiful, for none can make
it like the Italians.
The following instance that occurred
in Venice may be interesting. One dayI
hired CHANDELIER for an hour or two to
60 at random over the city, and as We
were gliding along narrow canal, the
gondolier asked me: Are YOU Amer
ican?' | replied was His face in
smile of pleasure. he drew from his coat
pocket piece of paper and handed it to
me- read as follows as / now remem-
Der it: ITO whom it may concern.
During my stay in Venice | have en-
ployed Antonio Orlandini, Gondoliere,
Traghetto Daniel No 40, and | have
always found him to be very obliging
and trustworthy. 1t gives me pleasure
to recommend him to any American