The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-08

Floyd in America. Several cabled home
for money. Others received tempor-
airy loans from kind friends and after
many tribulations the tour was re-
sumed. Our return passage on the
steamer was not affected by the fall
ure. The burning of the Saale and the
Main at the Hoboken ferry seems to
be the prime cause of the embarrass-
ment of the tourists agency. They
had chartered and paid for these
I steamers. AS they were burned on the
eve of sailing, Crawford & Floyd had
to secure and pay for the passage OF
most of their parties on other steam-
ers, and the North German Lloyd COM
pany, ii is said would not refund the
money paid by Crawford until the adj
justment of the insurance companies
was completed. This handicapped tho
agency, and it is estimated that over
1000 tourists shared our misfortunes
on the continent. At the meeting in
Hotel Luna to consider future plans,
we were favored with the presence Of
the American consul at Venice, Mr..
Johnson, of Washington, d. c. He re-
ceiVed an ovation. The waving of the
Stars and Stripes and singing of
America" made us forget we We're so
far from home. On arriving at the
depot instead of taking omnibuses
(for there are no horses in Venice),
we enter gondolas and ride along the
grand canal to the hotel.
THE HEART OF VENICE.
A stroll along the very narrow
streets crossing the many Rios or
water streets by numberless bridges.
viewing the active everyday life of
the Venitians, we pass on to the great
Piazza San Marco, the heart of Venice.
Here are the Procuratie with it's front
facade of thirty-two arches, now used
as the Royal Palace; also the cele-
brated clock tower, whose dial marks
the hours from one to twenty four;
the Campanile, the great tower of
Venice. Here at all hours from sun
rise to sunset the pigeons, which are
the proteges of Venice, are to be seen
by the hundreds. 1t is one of the fads
to feed the beautiful birds which will
flock around you, alight on your shoul-
ders, or feed from your hand. 1t is
criminal offence to kill one of these
city pets. Now we visit the wonder
full Cathedral of St. Mark, with its
many towers, dome and minerets, and
beautiful facade adorned with many
rich mosaics. We pass the great old
Palace of the Doges and the Columns
of st. George and St. Mark, sur
mounted by the winged lion, and stroll
along the quay of the Grand Canal.
viewing in one direction the Bridge of
Signs, connecting the Palace OF the
Doges with the Prison of Venice, and
in the other direction viewing the
| Rialto bridge leading to the Rialto
mentioned by Shakespeare in the
Merchant of Venice" moonlight
ride in the gondola is most charming.
! The city with its myriad lights, the
richly decorated gondOas moving in
all directions, music floating out over
! the water, the songs of the gondollers.
as they deXteriOusly ply the oar, is an
| inspiration. All of Venice is not so
| charming. Its deserted and crumbling
| palaces tell of a gay, sad past. Venice
! still lives for the passing hour unmind-
! full of her departed glory, and that her
| historic past will come again no more.
, Our days here have been filled with
| interest. for we have lived not alone
upon what we have seen, but upon tho
writings of others, who have flied
many of these palaces and scenes with
| tragedy and romance. II is a prvi-
lege to visit Venice. whose history is
so fun of interest and whose life Is 80
novel. Faithfully yours.
| Robert +. Y. Pierce.