Mexico Missouri message., 1910-10-06


short of his ideal is increased by the vulgarizng
effect OF the penny steamboat-the vaporetto.
with which the Venetians seem SO contented-
that sets his gondola rocking it passes, and
stirs up that in the sleeping canal waters which
had better been let lie; to say nothing of the
motor-boat, which is threatening to do for the
gondola what the taxi" is doing for our hansoms
at home.
If such a traveller be leaving Venice with q
sense OF disappointment, let him by no means
depart till he has visited the fisher island of Blu
rano for If he but choose his day and hour we'll
he will assuredly take home with him a satisfy
ing picture of one spot at Least, glowing with
color and teeming with a picturesque life, that
has outrun his most hopeful imaginings.
There can be few more pleasant experiences
on q fine warm afternoon in spring or autumn
in early May or mid-September for choice-than
to take a gondola, with two good rowers, and win
ones first sight of Burano.
A gondola 1t must be- not the vaporetto, that
one may arrive alone or with wellchosen com
panion, and not one amongst a crowd of chat
tering sightseeing snapshottGrs.
The way to Burano takes one through about
six miles of lagoon landscape to the eastward of
Venice The island is situated about five miles
northeast of Venice, in northern Italy The chief
industries of the people market gardening
building Of boats and fishing the women are EN-
ployed principally in lacemaking The island Of
Torcelle also belongs to Burano. 1t is located on
an adjacent isle and the principal attractions that
would interest travellers are the two museums of
antiquities and the cathedral, which was built In
the seventh century and was rebuilt during the
year 1908 This cathedral contains many yalu
able mosaics.
1t is a populous little place with busy com
munity of flsherfolk and iace-makers. In the
struggle for existence it has Jared better than its
older and once more prosperous neighbors, MAJ
zorbo and Torceo; the former 1t has, in fact,
annexed by means of a long, arching, wooden
bridge, which, seen from the low seat of a gon-
dola, looks like that on wiowpattem plate
Approaching the island one may find ones
gondola passing or passed by increasing numbers
of fishing boats racing each other home to Blu
rano; finely bronzed statuesque men stand bend
ing Justify to their oars their halfclad forms
showing many fine play and molding Of muscle.
The sails of these boats of delightful color
ing-saffron and sienna, orange, red and burnt
umber-and are often emblazoned with fantastic
designs, or with stars, flowers portraits Of
patron saints,
Then the island with its leaning campanile,
appears before one, its many.tnted walls basking
in the late sunlight. Approaching it on its west
ward side one gldes past the opening Of a canal
that intersects the island and first glance
It reveals scene that must live long in the mem
DRY of any lover of movement and color, The
quay sides are lined with fishing boats newly
home. many with their gorgeous sails still sway.
ing idly and glowing in the level rays OF the late
afternoon sun. Smburnt, earringed men are heap
ing piles Of glittering fish before the cottage
DOORS helped by the women, who add still more
color to the scene with6 the shawls and kerchiets
worn over their heads. These most becoming
garments are however not as rule very brill
iiantly hued, but OF mauve, fawn color, or a
tawnv red the stronger eolors being reserved for