The herald., 1897-04-20
A VENETIAN DAY
During Carnival When the Doge Mar
ried the Sea

"As for Venice and her people. merely born
to bloom and drop.
Here on earth they bore their fruitage.
What OF soul was left wonder, when the
X BROWNING.
While the principal cities OF Italy cell
ebrated the carnival in varying degrees
of magnifcence, that heN at Venice,
during the days OF the republic, present
ed exceptionally interesting features.
There the carnival had six months Of
every year to riot in. and attracted id1ers
from all parts of the world, and these
thronged the city with motley COM
pany-dominoes, harlequins. pantaloni,
illustrissimi and illustrissime. and per-
haps the doge himself. who had the right
of incognito when he wore a mask of
wax at his button-hole.
The crusades, from which the inhabit-
ants of other countries gained nothing
but relics and wounds. brought to the
rising republic of the Adriatic a large
increase of wealth, dominion and knowl-
edge. Their moral and geographical po-
sition enabled the Venetians to profit
alike by the barbarism Of the west and
by the civilization of the east. Venetian
ships covered every sea; Venetian fac
tories arose on every shore: the tables
of the Venetian money changers were
set in every city; manufactures -four
ished and banks were established. In
literature and art Venice was the link
between Italy and Greece. It's eastern
colonists learned the Greek tongue;
and the fall of the Greek empire brought
its banished men of science and letters.
On May 20. 99s, the Doge Pietro
Orseolo defeated the piratical Naren-
tines at sea, and annexed all 1stria. as
far as Dalmatia, to the republic. Hav-
ing thus given security of trade, he con-
stituted himself protector Of the sea from
Trieste to Albania, and 1t was to SYM
bolize this dominion that Venice insti-
tuted the superb ceremonial of the
cspousals Of the doge with the Adriatic,
which was annually observed on Ascen-
sion day. Not. however, until 200 years
later was 1t that Pope Alexander III
blessed the famous espousals and con-
firmed the republic in the possession Of
the sea forever.
A description Of the famous ceremony
by a noted writer gives one rather
poor idea of republican simplicity in the
DAYS when Venic, was at the zenith Of
its power.
EsPOUsALs OF THE DOGE
At midday, having heard mass in the
chapel OF the collegio, the doge descend
ed the giants stairs, issued from the
porta del carta (the gate of the ducal
palace opening on the piazzetta next st.
Mark's> and passed the booths Of the
MERGERS and glass vendors erected for
the carnival fair beginning the same
evening. He was preceded by eight
standard bearers with the fiags Of the
republic-red, white, blue and purple
given by Pope Alexander III to the
Doge Ziapi. Six trumpets of silver,
borne by as many boys mixe9 their notes
with the clangor of the bells OF the city'
Behind came the retinues OF the ampas-
sadors, in sumptuous liveries' ana tne
fifty comandadori, in their moving duo
robes and red caps; then followed musi-
clans and the squires OF the uoge' IN
black velvet then the GUARDS OF the
doge, two chancellors, the secretary OF
the pregadi. deacon clad IN purple ana
bearing a wax taper, SIX canons' tnree
parish priests In their sacerootal ropes'
and the doge's chaplain dressed IN GRIM
son. The grand chancellor was known
Nv his crimson vesture. Two squires
bore the o0ees cnoii anu e"o o"s"'ou
Of cloth Of gold. And the doge-the rep
resentative and not the master of his
country; the executor, and not the maker
Of the laws; citizen and prince. revered
and guarded. sovereign of individuals,
servant Of the state-came clad in
long mantle Of ermine, casscck Of blue
and vest and hose Of "tocca d'oro" "a
eause Of gold and silver), with the gold
en- bonnet on his head under the um-