The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-05
GLORIOUS VENICE
IS STILL SUPREME
Great Many Americans Are
Visiting the Town
IT IS A REAL DREAM CITY
Drifting Down the Grand Canal On a
Tropical Evening Recalls to the
Visitor the Scenes of
Fairyland.

Boston. June at is only within the
past few years that Americans have
begun to visit Venice in numbers
was usually included In the
itinerary of those who did the Grand
Tour" when that was so fashionable, and
1t has long been the favored haunt of
artists and literary men. But the or
binary sghsteer, the every day man of
affairs with three or four months to
devote to Europe. has only recently pene-
trated so far.
At first this average traveller from
1.-THE States contented himself with the
British Isles and run over to Paris.
Then, gradually, he advanced up the
Rhine and into the mountains of Switz-
erland. Even when he had conquered
the Alps and descended into Italy the
Queen of the Adriatic was usually too
far distant to come within his orbit.
Now, however, all this is changed and
at any season of the year one will find
in Venice quite as many Americans as
English and almost as many of them as
of Germans or Austrians.
The reason for this is partly that a
yearly increasing number of Americans
are discovering the charms of the Island
City, but even more largely because
Venice has been brought so much nearer
to us. Since the great steamships of the
White Star Line have been put into com
mission between the United States and
the Mediterranean II is possible to reach
Venice in twelve days from Boston by
way of Genoa, or by more leisurey
through Rome, Florence and Gologna
Thus the annoyance and discomfort of
long European railway journey is
avoided and the voyager steps almost di-
rectly, SO to speak, from the American
pier into the mystica. City of Isles with
the charm of contrast which 1t offers
all unspoiled.
A Romantic Spot.
Certainly there Is no other spot in all
the world that offers so much of inter-
est and romance to the unfamiliar visit
tor, whatever his tastes or calling. Other
cities of classic traditions have been
modernised out of all romance If not out
of all resemblance to their former Selves
Venice alone remains unchanged in all
its essentials. The means of conveyance,
the style of architecture. the churches
and palaces are still today exactly as
they were centuries ago. One can do"
Venice in three days so far as viewing its
principal sights Is concerned, or can
spend as many months in the occupation
and never weary of 1t. The city is always
lin season" in that 1t invariably has
plenty of interest and variety of attrac-
ton to offer, though the time when 1t is
sought by visitors In greatest numbers
Is the spring.
Here is an old city that really looks its
age There are towns of classical an
tiquty which now are nothing but heaps
of picturesque ruins and there are others
that have been rejuvenated and modern /
'sed, But Venice displays all the signs
Of hoary venerableness and, 1t must be
admitted, many of senile decreptude
Floating along the highways between
rows of age-stained buildings one scarce
ly needs to be told that there was
fourshng seat of trade witch levied tri-
butte on half the known world through
many centuries and which now that it
has fallen on less prosperous days, exists
chiefly in the reflection of its former
greatness.
Apart From World
The very moment Of entrance into We
nice brings the traveller from the west
into a world apart His luggage is taken
from the railway station down a flight of
stone steps to a gondola in which he
| also enscones himself and thus makes
4
| delightfully."- mysterious can be imagined
than a first trip along the Grand Canal
| at night between rows of dimlv outlined
| buildings. with no sounds hut the tapping
| of the water against the boat, the warn
| Ing cries of the gondalers, or the faint
! strains of music from some seranadlng
| party. No wonder poets have sung an
| artists painted Venice for ten centuries!
! In the streets the impression is of
| place equally unreal. They are narrow
| lanes such as are matched only by some
| of the courts in the midsts of London.
/ Mary are SO narrow that two persons can
| hardly walk abreast through them and
| they dive between high buildings. skirt
canals and loose themselves In broad
| courtyards in a most bewidering man.
| ner Not horse or a cart is to be en-
! oountered anywher and the way the peo-
rio ocrupy the full width of the highway
! instead Of being restricted to narrow
walks at either side gives Venice sin
gularly crowded appearance
Aside from the fact that II is absolutely
| different from any other city In the
world, the principal charms of Venice are
found in its art treasurers and its liter
airy and historical landmarks. TO stroll