The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-07

From the Baltimore American.
The news from Italy that the roof of
the cathedral-one of the masterpieces of
the worlds architecture-has fallen in,
and that the whole of that famous build
ing is threatened comes with a curious
interest following upon the news from
Paris that whole story of the Louvre
has just been discovered underground
The fact that the very existence of the
hidden walls in the center of Paris could
remain unknown for centuries opens up
entirely unexpected possibilities of future
discoveries. But while the fair Lutetia is
thus discovering her great buildings, Ven
ice, and now Toledo-two of the finest
cities of the wor1d-are threatened with
the loss of theirs.
When last year the famous silhouette
of venice-beloved of all painters from
Carpaccio to the hordes of artists and
amateurs who to this day invade the
lagoon city at every season of the year
was robbed of its most prominent and
characteristic feature by the collapse OF
the Campanie that bold structure which
was the very symbol ST the greatness OF
the old republic, the iadolent, happy-go-
lucky inhabitants of the town which so
invites to day dreams and dolce far.
niente' were rudely awakened from their
dream of security and reliance on the sta
bility of the legacy left to them by the
masters of yore. 1t is not the prosperity,
nay, the very existence of this fairyland
of marble and brick vested in this heri-
tage?
In their sudden alarm the authorities
have not only commenced the reconstruc-
ton of the Campanile and the repair of
the damages done to other edifices by its
fall, but have overhauled practically all
the old churches and palazzi, and the re-
suit of their investigation shows that the
! great disaster was really blessing in
| disguise, for many are the towere and
buildings that would have met with a
| similar fate had not the fall of the Cam
| panile directed attention to their threat
| ening condition.
| OF all the buildings on the grand canal
none is so bewitching in it's glitter of
white marble in roseate light, none so
| imposing under its noble cupola. as Santa
| Maria della Salute, whatever objections
may be raised against Longhena the arch
| itects sins against purity of style On the
roof of this church cvrack has been dis
covered. and the rain altering through it
was injurlng a painting by Salviati. Re-
| pairs were at once commenced by order of
the architectural committee.
The Campanile of the fourteenth centu-
! ry church of st. Stefano, with its ele-
CANT brick facade. which threatened to
follow the example of it's elder and state
| lier brother. has been completely sur
rounded by a wooden tower In prepara-
ton for the extensive repairs. It is to
be strengthened, but the old form will be
retained The tower of st. Giorgio del
| Greet built after 1888 by Santo Lombardo
| and Chiona. has been leaning for centu-
| ries but lately attention has been drawn
| to it's threatening condition. 1t will prob
| ably undergo thorough examination.
Restored Ruins.
| Another church about the safety of
which serious apprehensons have been
| aroused Is San Francisco della Vigna, SO
| called from a vineyard in which the pow
| erful Ziani family had a. chapel erected
| in honor of ST. Mark. The legend has 1t
that the evangelist on his journey from
! Aquilea to Rome was surprised by a
! storm, and stopped in this swamp, where
an angel greeted him with the words
PAX tibi Marco Evangeliste Meus,"
which words figured subsequently on the
escutcheon of the republic. 1t was ascer-
| tanned that the right side of the church
was in danger and 500 glass standard
marks were applied in different pos itfons
/ on the walls. Three of these were found
broken in four DAYS. Supports have now