The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-13
BOOKS OF THE TIME.
F. HOpkinsOn Smiths Tribute to the
Attractions of Venice.


pleasure close to that of an actual visit
to Venice is the reading of F. HopkInson
Smiths "GondoIa Days" in which he
sounds the praises of the City of the Sea.
As an artist he is delighted with its pic
tnresqueness; the spirit of the past and its
poetry appeal to him; the natives with
whom he fraternizes in cosmopolitan way
afford him social entertainment and give
the modern color to the scenes The place
fills him with joy. and this delight is so
successfully transmitted to the pages of his
book that the reader speedily comes under
the dreamy charm of the ancient city and
follows him eagerly in his wanderings
about the canals, into the by-ways and
among the people. He writes with an enthu-
siasm like to that of youth, but better be-
cause founded, not upon instinct, but upon
the philosophy of experience, which teaches
that the real pleasures of life are simple
and must be accepted as the child takes
them-for what they are worth at the mo-
ment. ignoring all else. Mr.. Smith does not
discuss architecture or history or COM
merce. save incidentally. II have content
ed myself rather" he says. with the
Venice that you see in the sunlight of a
summer day-the Venice that bewilders
with her glory when you land at her water
gate; that delights with her color when you
idle along the Riva; that intoxicates with
her music as you lie in your gondola adrift
on the bosom of some GREATNESS lagoon
the Venice of mold-staineJ palace. quaint
cafe and arched bridge; of strong-armed
men and graceful women-the Venice of
light and life, of sea and sky and melody.
II, ne ADDS, II have given to Venice a
prominent place among the cities of the
earth, 1t is because in this selfish, ma
terialistic, money-getting age it is a joy to
a
more priced than soldo where the poor
est pauper laughingly shares his scanty
habit, 10 be neglectful of old age a shame:
city the relics of whose past are the les
sons of our future whose every canvas.
stone and bronze bears witness to a grand
eur, luxury and taste that took a thousand
years of energy to perfect and will take a
thousand years of neglect to destroy" So
he drifts about in his gondoa makes
friends among the boatmen, the fishermen,
the guides, the idlers about the streets; he
wanders III old gardens. loiters on hotel
steps and on the quays, visits the markets.
the Riva, the plaZas and learns to know the
city in all its phases and as 1t appears at
every hour of the day or night. interviewer
with the vivid descriptions of picturesque
scenes are bits of the character sketching
In which the author is such an adept that
he gives a clearer idea of the inner life of
the people than is ever obtained by the or
binary tourist who makes the conventional
round. When you close the book regret
fully something of the enchantment he feels
is over you. "AnalyZe the feeling as you
may he says. "despise its sentiments or
decry ii altogether the fact remains that
once get this drug of Venice into your
veins, you never recover. The same thrill
steals over you with every phase of her
Wondrous charm-in the early morning, in
the binding glare of the noon, in the cool
of the fading day, in the tranquil watches
of the night 1t is Venice the Beloved, and
there is none other" The volume is one to
read and to reread if you mean to visit
Venice-and if you have no such hope. Pub
fishers, Houghton, Miffiin & Co., Boston.