New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-08

marks he makes on Goldoni but for some on
that play wrights interesting foe, Carlo Gozzi
But Mr.. Crawford might fairly retort that if he
were to surrender to every temptation presented
by the literature of Venice his book would be
sweled to ten times its present size.
As it is he has made a symmetrical work in
which we observe the life of the city from those
early days in which "a few sand ridges just
rose above the surface of the motionIess lagoon,
like the backs of doing whales in a summer
sea-" and men flying from the Huns despairingly
sought them for shelter to the entrance of Ma
poleon upon the scene and the sale Of the whole
Venetian territory to the Austrians Mr.. Craw-
ford naturally writes in compassionate vein
when he reaches that last miserable act in the
drama which marks the dividing line between
ancient and modern Venice, but he does not fail,
as he leads up to this climax, to show how the
decadence Of the city was gradually brought
about The fatigue of centuries, and the influ-
ence or European corruption acting upon q race
never without its sensual strain, slowly but
steadily sapped the foundations of the republic
1t was time for Venice to be brought to it's
senses by downright disaster when It was pos
sible for men living well into the eighteenth CEN
tury to tolerate this sort of thing:
The lordlings entertained Bravi. and when there
was no more serious business on hand they laid
wagers with each other as to the courage of their
hired assasstns. A bet of this kind was made and
setIled IN liza between Avegadro and Maspe-
ronl, Two country knights lived their
estates IN the province of Brescia- One evening
the two were discussing the character of ruffan
whom Masperoni had just taken into his service.
His new master maintained that the fellow
the bravest man In the profession" Avogadro,
the other hand, wagered that he would not be able
to traverse the road between his masters castle
and Lumezzane which belonged to Avogadro. Mas
peron took the bet. and explained the situation
the man. The latter, feeling that his reputation
at stake, started at once, carrying his
shoulder a basket Of fine fruit as a present from
MasperOni to his friend, and he took his way
the hills of VaItrompia. When he q few miles
from I1umeZzane he met by two well armed
fellows, who ordered him to turn back. but he
not so easily stopped. He set down his basket and
in the twinkling of eye killed both his adver
saries after which he quietly pursued his journey.
Avogadro was very much surprised to see him.
and asked with curiosity what sort Of trip he had
made
Excellent" he answered ST met a couple of
good-for-nothings who wanted to stop me, but 1
killed them, and here am.
Avogadro, filled with admiration, gave him q
purse of gold and sent him back to Masperonl with
q letter Of congratulation.
incidents of this kind occurred long afterward.
even after the fall of the Republic.
In this passage, and in scores Of others like
It. Mr. Crawford demonstrates that he has got
at the heart Of the character of Venice. He
shows us all the beauty Of the great city, and
he shows us the nature beneath its surface
splendors.