Catoctin clarion., 1900-09-06

an occa sional sound of singing or the notes
OF piano that ring out on the stiffness Of
the night. Venice is an odd place and it
takes some little time to unravel its peculi
arities. Think of having your front door
open on the water without foot of land to
stand upon; think of being taken from the
depot in boat and rowed to your hotel. II
the traveller seeks novelties he will certainly
find them here. Lord Byron went into such
ecstasies over Venice that the whole world
has ever since desired to see 1t. At first, no
doubt, the novelty gra,ifies and pleases, but
we imagine it would grow monotonous as a
place of residence. The great central attrac-
ton of Venice Is St. Marks Square and is
undoubtedly one of the finest squares in all
the world for the elegant magnlfcence OF
surrounding structures The cathedral of
St. Mark stands out as the most prominent
feature with its three domes and numerous
steeples. Facing the cathedral is the Cam.
panili or bell tower, which rises to height
of 800 feet, and its base being 3S feet wide.
Just across on the opposite corner is the
Doge's palace and on the north side the City
Hall. The entire square is paved with smooth
blocks of granite interspersed with iron pill
lars bearing clusters Of fgas jets, whilst another
line of illumination extends along the entire
front. The buildings fronting the square are
all of white marble and of considerable height
The interior of tue cathedral is wonderful for
the richness and profusion of its oriental
marble aud for it's carvings both of the an
| cient and middle ages and Its brOnzes and
mosaics from the 10th to the 18th century.
The tabernacle and the seml-circular arches
are supported by four columns of Greek
marble covered all over with bas.reliefs, a
work of the 18th century. Behind the altar,
sustained by marble bases, is tie famous
golden altar piece; it is wonderful and rich
piece of workmanship, studded with pearls
| aud precious stones. The Ducal palace built
IN Sl4 originally. though added to at various
times, is very fine and of immense size. The
| principal rooms are the Hall of the Four
Doors, a vast apartment with frescoes by
Tintoretto, illustrating the history of Venice
Next is the Sala di Collegio in which the
foreign ambassadors were received by the
Doge; the Sala del Maggor Consiglio (great
council chamber) is an immense room and
ceiling and walls beautifully decorated. The
most famous picture is the Paradise of Tin.
toretto. 1t is so large and has so many fig.
ures that we could have put in all our time
in Venice studying this wonderful painting.
The walls are covered with paintings illus.
trating the history Of Venice. The church
of San Georgia Maggiore is very gorgeous
with hangings of blue, scarlet and gold and
has many fine paintings and beautiful wood
carving by Brule; a painting by Tintoretti of
the last supper is worthy of special notice.
| The church of Santa Maria Della Salute COM
memorates the deliveIance Of Venice from
the plague of 1880 81 and is an imposing
looking building with large dome aud is
approached by flight of marble steps
There is nothing which strangers visiting
| Venice looks at with more interest than the
Bridge of Signs. This bridge is open eculp.
tured work, highly ornamentcd. 1t closed
at the top and sides, the light entering thro'
the open work and was used to convey pris-
oners back and forth for trial 1t has been
immortalized by Byron in the 4th canto of
Chllde Harold, thus: