Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-30

subside and no more cases were re-
ported. The church was begun ear
ly in 1882, and is foundations rest
upon 100000 piles all coated with
cement. Upon the high altar is
group in marble representating the
Holy Virgin banishing the plague.
According to the vows made at
that time the doge and the council of
the republic always visited Santa
Maria della Salute on the anniver-
sary of the covenant. and since the
fall of the republic the mayor and
common council of the city have full
filled them instead. Business is
suspended. Every shop must be
closed. tried to buy some photo
graphs but the man said he could not
sell them that day because 1t would
! injure his business standing if he
did. He would send them to the
hotel for me to make a selection
or might come around in the morn
Ing, but nobody was allowed to do
OF Health.
There was an official procession
from the city hall to the church,
headed by the mayor. the municipal
council. Cardinal Sarto, who is can
didate for pope, and other religious
and civil dignitaries. Two pontoen
bridges were placed across the
Grand Canal to the piazza in front of
the church for the use of the pos
, session, and to enable the crowds of
poor people to attend the festival
A W NO vt
boats. All day long the church was
crowded, and mass after mass was
celebrated by relays of priests. At
noon special tie deum was sung in
the presence of the official worship
pers. Thousands of people took can
dies and other offerings to the Vir
I Virgin. hundred Of thousands ofpray-
ers for the preservation of the health
of the city were offered, and If there
is any efficacy in prayer the Mother
/ of Christ, Venice ought to be a
healthy city during the next year.
(, On the Piazza st. Marks were crowds
of people in holiday dress. In the
afternoon and evening the cafes
were crowded with merry ymakers,
and the theaters gave special per-
| formances.
| This procession was in violation of
law. so that you may appreciate its
I Importance. The republicans. So
cialists and liberals of the Italian
parliament several years ago passed
statute forbidding religious festivals
or demonstrations in the streets, and
confining them to the churches. 1t
g.. Il
the open air with ceremony. and fun
erals must be conducted without the
display of religious banners or eff
gies.
| In some cities of conservative pop
u alton where the clericals retain
/ power this law is defied but very
generally throughout the country 1t
I is strictly observed. except upon oc-
casions of vital Importance to the
in Venice.
| | do not suppose you remember
that Titan died of the plague in Ven
, ice in 1876 in his niney-ninth year
and was buried in the Church of the
Minorite Friars In violation of law
which provides that no remains shall
be buried in the churches. but that
all bodies shall be inferred in ceme-
teries beyond the boundaries of the
city. The only exception were the
doges and two or three famous peo-
Pile like Titan. Even during the
terror of the plague an exception was
made in his favor. although the walls
of the church, covered with price
less paintings were white-washed with
disinfectants.
The heart OF Canova, the great
sculptor. is buried on the opposite
side of the church. from Titan. His
body rests in his native village near
Bassano, while his right hand, which
showed so much cunning. is preserv-
ed In the Venetian Academy of Arts.
The tomb of Canova was designed
by him and was originally intended
for Titan.
In the Church of Santa Maria della
Salute is Titian's celebrated paint
ing of st, Mark. which Ruskin con-
sidered his best work. At the
time of his death Titan was engaged
upon a great picture of the entomb
ment OF Christ, and 1t was almost
finished when the plague took him.
One Of his pupils, Palma Glovane,
completed it, and it now hangs in
the academy at Venice, work of
remarkable merit for any artist, and
probably the only picture ever paint
ed by man 80 years old. In the
Church OF San Salvatore. here in
| ~ riat lon
which is considered one of the great
est works, although 1t was painted
in his eighty-ninth year. In the
cathedral at Florence is a large can
vas painted by Michael Angelo when
he was 81.
Another false impression about
Venice which perevails among peo-
pie who ought to know better is that
the city is in constant danger of de-
struction from flood or tidal wave.
Only the other day Consul johnson
received a letter from u gentleman
1