Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-08-27
Mrs. RemoIdsis Notes From Europe.
VENICE. July %. 1896

| enCe. Otl your map VI ltdll anu SCc
how we have travelled. Well, after get
ting out of the cars we walked short
| distance, when we came to the Grand
canal, and took our baggage and our
selves on board large gondola rowed by
three men called ''GondOliers. 1t was
a strange mode of travelling for most OF
us. Can you think of a city where most
| of the streets are water, where there
are no horses, no mules, no carriages, nc
wagons, and when people want to go out
instead of taking street car or carriage
! they Just beckon to a gondolier and up
comes the gondola, you step in and away
you 60 This is good hotel, and from
our room we can see out long distance
over the water, which is part of the
| Adriatic sea.
! This morning we meant to 20 to the
English service, but it was too far for
! such warm morning, so we went TO st.
| Mark Cathedral, very large and very
| old church. There we could walk, though
we crossed several bridges over canals.
In front Of the Cathedral is very large
! square surmounted on three sides by fine
! buildings. There in the square, every
| day, at | o'clock p. m, the pigeons OF
the city are fed. There are thousands
of them, not of every color, all dark ones,
and il is an offense to hurt one of them
Any one doing so would be arrested. To-
morrow we are going to feed them and
| DR.. Bowman will take a picture of the
| party. Here 1t IS very warm IN
| the sun, but delightful in the shade.
Some of the streets are not wider than
our front porch, and the houses are very
tall, three, four, five and six stories, so
there is plenty of shade. This city was
! built on a number Of small islands, and
its history is very interesting. =.
AUSTRIA, July %, 1896
Ny DEAR GRANDDAUGHTER
We are now in Austria, at place called
Boien pronounced BotZen). 1t is a love-
~ spot in the Tyrol Alps, has no historic
interest whatever, but is simply rest
ing place between Venice and Munich.
After touring in Italy one needs rest
before beginning on Germany. Ii is
very delightfully."- cool and pleasant here,
and this hotel reminds me more Of the
English hotels than any we have met
with since leaving England But in
hotels we have been fortunate except in
London, which was not all that we could
desire. y The last evening we were
in Venice is one none of us will ever for
get After our dinner which was at half
past six o'clock, we walked TO st. Mark S
Square, where we sat enjoying the sights
until near nine o'clock, when DIR. Bow
man, appeared telling us the gondolaS
were ready. There were thirteen in our
party, so we had three gondolas The
gondoaS are all painted black, and the
evening costume of the gondoliers is
white There are seats for five persons
in each gondola During the day can
opy is used, but at night it is removed.
They are about thirty feet long, and the
place where the seats are, is in the center.
The gondolier stands back Of the passen-
gers, and propels the boat with one oar.
How he does it do not know, but they
can come so near each other that you
expect collision, yet they never touch
each other. Well, we all got into our
places, and away we went not very rap
idly. but fast enough to take in the sights
the beautiful Nenician houses and
palaces along the Grand canal, all having
steps down to the water, and places to
faSten their gondOlas. Some had them
waiting there. They may have been
private property. In Venice you hire
gondolas as we hire carriages and horses
from the livery stables at home. After
awhile the moon arose-it had been full
the night before-so it was Just entranc-
ing to be floating along, with the moon
light beaming on the waters, and the tall
palaces, some in shadow and some IN the
light. In the distance the numberless
electric and gas lights added to the beau
ty of the scene.
Soon we came in sight of a cluster of
colored lights, where concert was to be
given on the water There were, when
we arrived, a number of gOndolaS there,
but our men went around and edged their
way in between gondOlaS until the PROV
of ours touched the large boat where the
musicians were. 1t was an orchestra
violins, guitars, etc, which accompanied
the singers. We enjoyed it most thor
oughly Some distance away, but IN
sight, another concert was going on.
The gondolaS continued to come until
the water was filed with them for some
distance. After four pieces were given
a man, very Enthusiastically dressed, took
up collection, stepping from one boat
to another. Then more music, a row
farther down the canal and back again
to place near our hotel where band
was PLAYING There we took our seats at
tables had refreshments, some took beer
and cakes, some lemonade and cakes.
So il was near midnight when we went
to bed. but il was our last night in Ven
ice and in Italy, and we made the most
of it, The next morning we visited
few more old Churches-to see famous
pictures-did little shopping and at
two o'clock started for this restful spot
At Verona we changed cars. At Ala, on
the borders Of Italy and Austria, we had
to get out to have our baggage examined
1t is an amusing and confusing scene,
this custom house business, where neith-
err party has the least idea what they are
saying TO each other. Everything is ia
ken into large room and opened for the
inspection Of the officials They do very
little looking AS none Of our party had
whiskey or cigars or tea in large guam
titles, we soon got through with that busi-
ness. The ride from Verona here was
up the mountains, by very gradual as
cent. We were expected, and very fine
dinner 900 awaited us = This
morning we all slept as late as we liked,
tdCn ldhlDk DlEdhldoA Nll'h w NshA4AN
down. Mrs. Hood and got down about
nine o'clock-to our rolls and coffee.
Now it is near luncheon time. The gem
tleman are going trout fishing this after
noon, the ladies to dreamland. Tomor-
row we will probably go to Munich. Two
of our ladies went there from Zurich
the Misses Van Buren,; one of them was
not well enough for the Italian trip, so
they await us at Munich, and we will be
| glad to have them with us again DR..
Gerheart will also join us there. We eX-
pect to enjoy Germany, as a number OF
the party are German scholars, and most
of the gentlemen know at least some
thing of the language. | advise you to
take every advantage Of your opportuni-
ties for study Of languages in case you
should ever come abroad, for it adds
greatly to the comfort Of the town TO
comprehend what is said to you. DR..
Bowman having been to all these places
before gets along very well. but without
him we would be very helpless unless we