The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05
RIDICULOUS ar an Venice.

William E Curtis is not idolatrousiy
PROSTATE before the art OF Venice that is
all of it. Writing from that city TO the
Chicago Record Herald he says:
What is the lion Of ST. Marks laugh
ing att It is one of the most celebrated
animals in the world Although they czlI
il lion. il does not resemble the or
thodox king OF beasts any more than
any other geological monstrosity. Its
head is small and its mouth Is very
large, and is stretched IN an aI-com-
pretending grin
The front paws of the historical beast
are resting or the pages OF an open
book. and perhaps something he read
there provoked the expression OF amGse-
ment ne has worn for nine centuries. but
a lady OF my acquaintance declares he
is laughing at q prepOsterous group IN
marble at the angle OF the doge's palace
representing Adam and Eve II occu-
pies a recess at the top of one Of the
most exquisite pieces of stone carving
that was ever executed. but the appear
anee and posture of our first parents are
absurd enough 10 make even "a bronze
lion laugh
Between the palace and the old mint
on the Piazza of ST. Mark, Venice. are
two monOiith pillars of oriental gran
tie, brought 10 Venice nearly 10le years
ago from some unknown source in the
east ne 0D=F AlE-ttl1a y no II sup
posed 10 be responsible for them. was
famous for his conquests in Syria and
Egypt. along the African coast. and
these were trophies Of his vaiOr. One is
red granite. and the other is gray. Upon
the top OF the former is a marble stat
ute Of St. Theodore. the original pro
tector OF the republic. who stands upon
the back of badly made crocodile.
holding a sword IN his left hand and 4
"a ~lr
been able 10 explain the significance Of
the crocodile in satisfactory man
ner, and for that reason some writers
have declared that the group was in
tended for St George and the Dragon.
But that is OF no consequence. The
gray column is more important. for it
bears the famous lion with outstretched
wing. empty eyesockets. which formerly
held priceless rubies, and the alnu shty
grin. This lion IS older than history. No
body knows where il came from or who
made it. 1t has been the inspiration
of poets for centuries: it has been rep
resented upon TIE flags. the banners, the
seals, the coins. the paper money and
bonds of Venice. Artists have raved
over it in the most ridiculous manner.
Nobody ever saw such a looking thing
elsewhere. but its age affsets its absurd
". and the legends that surround il are
very interesting. Napoleon stole this
lion and took it TO Paris. as he did the
horses on the roof of St. Marks cathe-
dral, but after his downfall it was re-
stored.
The two columns. which stand al the
top of the steps leading from the land
ing place of the gcnd0las on the Grand
canal. are said 70 bring bad luck 70
every one who passes through them. CEN
turtles ago 4 man of the name Of FaiierO.
who was elected doge, landed in front
Of these columns to enter the palace
during a heavy fog. Not being able TO
see his way, he inadvertently passed be-
TWEEN the fatal columns, and one year
afterward was sentenced to death by the
secret Council of Ten. one of the coun-
ell. with the sword of justice in his
hand and mask upon his face. be-
headed him. and then appeared upon the
gallery, and. holding the dripping weapon
before the multitude, cried out that the
betrayer Of his country has received his
terrible DOOM,