The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-08

CORNERSTONE LAID WITH IMPRESS
SIyE SERVICE AND STATE.
New Tower VIII Rise "Where 1t Was
and as 1t Was"-A Monument to
Venetian Courage.

of soft April breezes, the first stone of the
new Campanile has been laid in Venice.
with all the official pomp and ceremony
BETTING the occasion. Solemn in itself and
unique in history, 1t was most appropriately
celebrated on the day of ST. Mark. ira
ditional custom allows, or rather COM
mands, every man in the city of Venice to
send TO the ladies of his acquaintance, TO
whom he wishes to pay homage, a floral
offering, usually a spray of rosebuds, on
the day of st. Mark: it is needless to say
that when the offering is one of love, not
Of simple friendship. gem is often added
to the flowers. On the day of st. Mark the
people of Venice have presented their beau
tiful. beloved city with a most welcome
gem; the foundation stone of the new Cam
panile, while the bells of the 124 churches
of Venice, by order of the patriarch, rang
forth in the sunlit skies a triumphal glory
of the city of St. Mark. Fifty thousand
people witnessed the laying of the stone;
and it is but safe to say that far more than
100000 throughout Italy and the whole
world have followed in their deep heart the
wonderful ceremony which marked the be-
ginning of the new Campanile.
The Count of Turin was there, represent
ing the King of Italy: the secretary of
state for public instruction was there, with
the French Minister Chamnie. for the time
being the guest or the government; the
ladies OF the court, admirals OF the navy,
generals of the army, deputies to the Par
Lament, councillors of state, members OF
the Senate, soldiers from the garrison and
sailors from the men-of-war and repre-
SentativeS of the commonwealth, students
from the universities and workmen from
the arsenal and officers from the various
regiments were there, and the inevitable
and exhilarating brass bands or all ltallan
open air ceremonies were there, too So
were the flags of a hundred associations,
and, first and most glorious, the banner OF
the city of Venice Palms and flowers ana
red draperies and brilliant uniforms and
the light gowns of the ladies in the court
tribune gave brightness and relief to the
whole scene. Whoever has seen one OF those
beautiful spring days in Venice, when the
sky is blue and the sea is blue and the
white marbles shine like polished ivory
and the golden mosaics gliSten in the SUM-
whoever remembers one of these incom-
parable Venetian. days will surely under
stand.
LAYING THE CORNERSTONE.
A little chapel draped in blue had been
erected on the side of the platform for the
religious ceremony. to be celebrated by the
patriarch. A red carpet had been stretched
from the platform to where the Campanile
awaited the first stone of the new con-
structon. AS soon as the patriarch had
reached the platform-coming from the ca
thedral. in the rich garments of prince Of
the church. with a princely train of priests
and attendants, and the Prince of Savoy on
the other side had entered, smart and
jaunty in his military uniform-the cerex
monies began. There were speeches or
course. No official ceremony can be with
out speeches, especially in Italy. The ora
tors were three, the mayor of the city, the
secretary of state on behalf of the govern
who expressed his congratulations and
pleasure at being able to witness the cere-
mony. After the speeches the solemn mo-
ment was at hand. The document of the
occasion was written in Latin on vellum,
enriched with fine miniatures.
1t was signed by the authorities present,
inclosed in metal case, tied with the ltal-
ian colors and lowered in the gap that was
to be filled with the foundation stone, while
the patriarch donned gold chasuble of ex-
traordinary beauty and richness and made
readJ for the benedictiOn of the ground in
the little blue chapel He then emerged
fully dressed, with the inter on his head
and the pastoral in his hand and followed
by his train of attendants, after having
read a prayer, besprinkled the ground with
holy water. Coins of gold, OF silver and OF
nickel made during the reign OF the pres
ent King, were also thrown beneath the
stone and covered with mortar by the
prince, the patriarch and the rest of the
illustrious guests of the occasion. Then,
amid deadly silence, the great foundation
stone half q ton in weight, was lowered.
The gap was successfully filled, the bands
struck up the royal march; the prince con-
graduated the architect, Luca Beltrami.
The patriarch, amid the reverent attention
of the crowd, with noble word invoked the
Lords blessing upon the great work just
begun; the crowd burst into APPLAUSE and
the new Campanile was founded or rather
life, about 900 years after its first birth,
with an interval of less than one year be-
tween ruin and resurrection.
EXACTLY LIKE THE OLD ONE.
The new Campanile will be exactly like
the old one, and rise exactly in the same
spot And it is well that it should be so.
Where it was and as it was" says the
official statement. Plans came from north
and south, from east and west but the
monster plan the one of rebuilding
the Campanie with steel frames, as some
well-known department stores. And a curl
Gus example of misplaced artistic feeling
was given by some artists who insisted
that the Campanile. after having been re-
Quilt with new material, should be arti-
hcls8ly damaged and colered I'm order TO
make II real Imitation of the antique
There had BEEN current talk of rebuilding
Campanile to st. Mark In an entirely
different location, on plans entirely differ
ent, artistically and INTELLECTUALLY suita BILE
10 the new surroundings. This was also
vain talk, and, fortunately, now it is out
of the question. For the life of Venice al
ways is and inevitably will be conferred in
the beautiful piazza and st. Mark is in
the venetian spirit, not only the holy
apostle OF celestial glory, but the repre-
sentative and patron of earthly success, OF
political power, of human action.
The very spot where the old Campanile
has been, the only spot where the new
Campanile might be, was sacred as the
center TO which the infinite rays of Vene-
tian action throughout the world inevitable
converged. The tower of st. Mark had for
Venice the significance that the CAPITOL has
for Rome; the one spot in the CITY where
all OF Its glory, its triumphal professions
its citizens immortal, its conuuerors and
heroes, have come through centuries and
will come in future centuries fnevita hIv
fatally. From the very spot that has been
reconsecrated, on the day of St Mark the
ship was seen, which. trailing in the peace-
full waters of the lagoon the flags of the
infidels, brought to the western world the
first news of the conquest Of Constan-
tinope. From this same spot the sa-
lutte was extended to the ships that
fought and Won the first great naval battle
of Christendom; and to the peaceful con-
queror and explorer of another great world.
Marco Polo. the first man to travel
throughout the world and India" This very
same spot has witnessed more than any
other in Venice her glories and her misfor-
tunes, her festivals and rejoicings on land
and sea, all the solemn occasions i'm her
life OF centuries: among the most notable
the annual celebrations of good Thursday.
the festive illumination of 1405 for the con-
he t,fS aft ha