The Montgomery tribune., 1910-10-07

galleries tC expect. And nowadays this falng
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 as it passes, and
strs 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
gondoa what the taxi is doing for our hansoms
at home.
If such a traveller be leaving Venice with a
sense Of disappointment, let him by
depart till he has visited the fisher island of Bu
rano for if he but choose his day and hour well,
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
con fine, warm afternoon in spring or autumn
in early May mid-September for choice-than
to take a gondoa, with two good rowers and win
ones first sight of Burano.
gondola it must be- not the vaporetto that
one may arrive alone with well-chosen COM
panion, and not as one amongst crowd of chat.
gterng, sightseeing snapshottTs.
The way to Burano takes 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 are market gardening,
building of boats and fishing; the women are en-
ployed principally in acemak!ng. The island of
'Torcee also belongs to Burano. 1t is located on
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 valu.
able mosaics
1t is populous little place. with busy COM
munity of fisherfok and lace-makers. In the
struggle for existence 1t has Jared better than its
older and once more prosperous neighbors, MAJ
.zorbo and Torcello; the former 1t has, in fact,
annexed by means of a long. arching, wooden
bridge, which, from the low seat OF gon.
dola, looks like that willow-pattern plate.
Approaching the island, one may find ones
gondola passing passed by increasing numbers
of fishing boats racing each other home to Bu-
rano; finely bronzed statuesque men stand bend
ing Justify to their oars, their halfclad forms
showing many fine play and moding of muscle.
The sails Of these boats are of delightful color
ing-saffron and sienna, orange, red and burnt
umber-and often embazoned with fantastic
designs, with stars flowers or portraits of
patron saints.
Then the island with its leaning ci4mpanile
appears before one its many-tinted walls baskng
in the late sunlight. Approaching 1t on its west
ward side one gdes past the opening of a canal
that intersects the island. and first glance
1t reveals a that must live long in the mem
ory of any lover of movement and coor 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. Sunburnt, earrnged men are heap
ing piles of glittering fish before the cottage
doors, helped by the women who add still more
color to the scene with the shawls and lrerchiefs
wcrn over their heads, These most becoming
garments are. however. not as rhie very bril-
liantly hied. but OF mauve. fawn color, or a
tawny red the STRONGER coors being re2srved for