The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-05

across the arched bridge over the Grand
Canal and along the way that leads to 1t,
the Rialto, brings Shylock and his fell
low characters from THE Merchant of
Venice" to real life. To cross the Bridge
of Signs and enter the dungeons beneath
1t, where not the faintest' ray of light
penetrates, then peer along the PASSAGE
way down to the water, where are the
gates opening outward through which
the gondolas passed on dark nights
bearing the bodies of those who vanished
suddenly and without explanation for
the good of the state" is to go back into
the ages when life was a romance and
mystery. 1t seems almost as II the same
scenes might be repeated here tomor-
low; and indeed they might, save that
the day of such summary methods has
passed.
Fatal Lions Head
In the wall of the great council cham
Der in the Doge's Palace yawns the fatal
lions head, into whose open mouth were
thrust the denunciations of citizens sus-
pected of treason or reasonable views
those who were later to cross the Bridge
Of Signs and anguish In the darkened
dungeons And there are the very cush-
Ions upon which the councillors sat to
pass sentence In no other city, not even
In Rome, are the relics of past ages so
faithfully preserved, and certainly in no
other is the atmosphere of the past so
nearly present.
The artistic attractions of Venice, as
indeed the greater part of It's life and
activities, centre chiefly about the Piazza
San Marco The square itself is never
laclirR in interest for IT, as seldom hap
pens few persons are about there are
always hundreds OF pigeons waiting to
flock around the visitor who purchases
= nv
his hands. his arms. his head wherever
they can gain foothold and scramble
in fluttering confusion for the yellow
kernels. The pigeons of the Piazza San
Marco are famous the world over, and
they nobly maintain their reputation as
entertainers for tie slight consideration
of ms much grain as their plump crops
will hold.
st. Marks Itself Is truly Venetian In
that 1t Is not the be compared with any
ether cathedral. Less stately than the
famous edlflces of Rome Florence and
Milan. It Is more beautiful in its own
fashion than any of these. byzantine In
style 1t Is q reminder that there is the
ancient threshold Of the eastern world
the gateway of the Orient Indeed it is
the truest memorial to the former domin-
Ion of Venice throughout the Eastern
Mediterranean, for II encloses treasures
from Constantinople. Egypt and in fact
from every part of the Levant
Outside of Rome, there is nowhere else
SO magnificent n collection of italian mas
terpieces of art as in the ancient City
Of the Isles. The Doge's Palace alone Is
a perfect treasure house. with acres of
frescoes and mural decorations undimmed
by the passage of centuries More than
fifty Of Tftian's .canvasses are In the diff
ferent galleries and the other names
famous in the story of Italian art are
generally represented.
The Human Elements.
The more human elements of Vene-
tian life one feels as powerless to de-
scribe as its great monuments. The
yenetians are a musical, dancing laugh
ter. loving people, although their greatest
glories have departed. Gaiety and pathos
are always close neighbors among them,
b 1t these are elements that are not cas-
lily transcribed to print They must be
seen and felt to be appreciated-a slow
moving funeral procession making its
way under the Rlalto bridge the casket
resting on a black draped gondola the
lighted candles giving solemn aspect;
or a warm spring evening on the Grand
Canal when boats hung with Chinese Ian
terms fit to and fro like fireflies while
these strains of guitar and mandolin ac-
company perfectly atuned voices singing
some soft Italian air 1t Is then that one
feels that the pages of the fairy books
that delighted his childhood have opened
before him once more.
Lest It should seem that the story of
Venice is altogether one of departed
grandeur It should be added that in its
Industrial features as In all else Venice
is different from other places, The work
shops where its wonderful mosaics. its
famous laces, it's beautiful woodcarvings
and artistic decoration on glass and
china are wrought are no less attractive
than the features more usually cata-
Il gued for the benefit of the sightseer He
who cannot take away from Venice some
thing to add to the treasures of his home
and the enjoyment of his life must be
poor indeed both in purse and mind.