The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-08

by the thought that he Is to see city built on islands with water everywhere With this strangeness comes a feeling of fear as he hands his luggage to A gondo iter and steps Into the gondola wondering how his gondofer will steer the light fimsy craft through the many small canals, for be has no light and the night Is dark.
 The gondoiier gives his back to the oar and they are off. The moon rays play upon the waters giving them an iri- descent blue. The rocking of the gon- dola from side to side soon awakens a feeling of calm and rest. The traveller is so easily entranced by the mystery of colour, sound and movement he wonders if anything could disturb 1t when the cry "Ah stali' strikes sharp upon his ear. The canal is so narrow 1t seems i'm possible for two gondola to ride abreast but the prov is turned aside and another boat darts forth like a seagull playing on the waters and passes safely.
 When asked If 1t Is not hard to man age one of the crafts the gondoher answers: 'ft is all getting used to 1t. You see we begin when are little boys; we start by rowing freight boats, we live on the canals so much 1t Is hard to keep on land. We can almost feel when a boat is coming before we hear the cry 'Ahl Stan.' <"
 The boat, with many twists and sudden turns, is carried through long network of canals. They pass a long row of gon- nolas lined up before a large hotel wait Ing to disembark They turn corner and are now on the great canal, whose broad waters simmer like many precious gems with the light of the town and the moon playing on the waters. Looking ncross on one bank he sees the snowy dome of a large church, on the other many old palaces, once occupied by srandees and princes, now remodeled to meet the needs of English and American tourists.
 Just before the traveller aights the gondoler whispers to him, sir, don't forget a pour bore for the gondolier." Supper Is eaten In haste, for the traveller Is anxious to go out the stone balcony and enjoy the quiet beauty of that Ven Ice of which he has read and dreamed but Is just getting to know. One by one the stars have come out, they have spangled the sky and changed the waters to greenlsh hue The Canal throbs
 
 ID and down carrying enthusiastic Amer
 leans and lively English, who give vent to their feelings in such phrases Isn't this just splendid" T like Venice better than any other city" Charles after you
 make your fortune let us come and live here, and spend our old age riding about In gondolas"
 Their enthusiasm tempts him and he hastens to get a gondola. He instructs the gondolier to take hlm to St. Marks square Nearing the shore the gondolier points out large marble building say Ing that 1t is the Great Palace of the Doges, on the other side is the splendid National Library. Towering above these buildings are the golden Domes of St Marks Church and the great column with the splendid clock. The doves have gone to rest and the square Is given over to pleasure seekers; some are prone nading up and down, others are slipping coffee and listening to the soft strains of a mandolin orchestra.
 History.
 Venice and Genoa are the two Italian cities that from earliest times disputed the rights of the sea. A desire to be independent caused Venice to develop by leaps and bounds. the people were so proud of their own attainments they had small desire to marry, even to asso- ciate with Italians of other cities. As early as the tenth century Venice held her own with the other cities of Italy, | many of the islands had been spanned with stone bridges and 80. churches reared their proud heads. Every island had its own church, Its own ecclesiasti- | .al director, and Tribune These Trlbunes were exceedingly jealous of their power, they elected the Doge with care and | when he tried to rule with a high hand l threw him in prison. The Lion became | the symbol of this citys power. One adorned the Ducal Palace and into Its jaws were thrown the charges brought | egaiust her citizens. Their money bore the same stamp.
 This strength and desire to rule the sea was expressed by a strange cere- mony called the Wedding of the Sea. It was the Doge Peter Orsolo II. who on the ship called the Bucentaure threw the first gold on the waves and thus presided at the marriage of Venice with the Adriatic. At this time Dalmatia was brought under her rule and by the twelfth century the Adriatic became her domain.
 It was not until century later that Venice became a real oligarchy under Dore Peter Gradenigo law was
 passed that only those should be consid-
 cred citizens who had fathers and grand
 fathers in the government, all others to be excluded This law caused great dis
 content among the people, but their
 words of opposition remained unheeded
 Possessors of vast fortunes, the patri
 clans and rich merchants rvaled In
 widest extravaganza, their money flowed
 from the cofers as easily wines from
 their bottles, and this desire for splendid
 display resulted in making Venice the
 most attractive city of the world. The
 most splendid palaces were reared along
 the banks of the canals, their facsdes
 were adorned with the richest arabesque
 carvings. Handsome gondolas and liv
 cried gondoliers stood before the doors
 day and night Naughty princes and
 handsome ladies richly attired in silks
 and splendid jewels spent their days
 riding in their gondolas, paying calls,
 night was turned into day with dancing
 and marry-making at splendid balls.
 It was in the fifteenth century that
 Venice attained the summit of her power: she boa sted as having 100000
 inhabitants, she had 5000 vessels and
 3b.OOO marines, more than 45 gallies
 mounted by 11,OOo men protected her
 commercial interests on the high seas.
 When Constantinople was taken by the Uapira arrtod oSr sOne of hor