Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-11
Began at Masked Ball.

This tragedy began at q masked ball IN
| the year 1855, when the great Marine
| Faliero had been Doge of Venice about
| six months. being the successor of An
drea Dandolo, the greatest hero in We.
| netian history. He was seventy-six year:
old and could look back upon a lone
| series of brilliant triumphs in war, ir
| statecraft, in politics and diplomacy, and
his browning honor was his election, dur.
| ing his absence, as ambassador to Rome
| and without his knowledge to the dig
| nifty Of Doge Of Venice. But, high borr
one Of those fine spirits who bear great.
ness with simplicity. His character, by
| nature quick and fiery, by lifelong
habits Of command, had become imperi.
Gus and arrogant. No rival had beer
fond of power enough to stand before
escape Ills anger.
Among the masqueraders certain
handsome patrician of high rank named
Michael Steno, had selected as his part.
| ner one of the dogessa's waiting ladies
and influenced, perhaps, by wine began
to press his suit too ardently The doge
who observed the little scene. strobe Ut
to the offender and commanded him in
stantly to quit the l,all.
Michael Steno boiled at the indignity
which had SO publicly been put upon
him. Stirred with resentment, he wan
dered into the great senate hall, where
Portia pleaded. where Shylock whetted
his keen knife and where Othello taught
another doge and his senate the charms
| which had bewitched the heart Of Desde.
| mona, and. acting upon impulse, Steno
with a piece OF chalk, such as the dane
ers used to prevent their shoes from
| the dose's throne in letters foot long
'Tne doge has lovely wife, but she
Is not for him.
Angered at Light Sentence.
Whether he spoke the truth or whether
he lied. like Iago. the poisoned arrow OF
his vengeance struck the mark. Steno
was arrested. The tribunal Of forty was
convened with speed. The defendant in
stantly admitted his offense. The court
sentenced him to two months imprison-
ment. to be followed by year of exile.
But the doge had taken it for granted
that his insulter would lose his head.
The mild verdict stung him to the quick
and his rage was diverted from Steno to
the signcry.' And then, for the first time
in his long term, he found himself con-
fronted by an adversary more powerful
than himself. He was brooding over his
humiliation that same evening, gloomy
and alone, when q man came painting to
the palace gates The blood was stream
ing down his face. His name was Israel
Bertuccio: he was workman in the
arsenal. A certain noble of high rank
had struck him in the face and he ap-
pealed for justice.
..Justicer' said the doge, with bitter
emphasis: Justice against a member of
the signory! 1 cannot gain it for my
SELF
Then said Bertuccio. hercely, I'VE
must avenge ourselves, as will
And he turned to leave the chamber.
The doge called him back, and presently
discovered that chance had put weapon
In his hands BertucciO was a member Of
a secret brotherhood which, stung by a
sense Of wrong. was ripe for revolt.
When Bertuccio left the palace he was
under an engagement to return in secret
on the night succeeding. and he brought
with him a companion. Filippo Calendaro,
sculptor employed upon the palace
buildings The doge. attended by his
nephew. Bertuce Faliero, was waiting for
them. These four men sat down together,
and drew up between them a scheme OF
vengeance.
Bell Signal for Massacre.