The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-02-09

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buildings erected at that time. It has
looks az though ii were good for ia
more
The Grand Canal, which once di-
vided the city, Is a splendid sheet Of
water varying in width from $50 feet
to one third of mile. Thousands
of boats ply upon its surface.
Along its banks are the shops. In
these all sorts OF merchandise are
offered for sale and sold at extrava-
CANT prices.
St. Marks Plaza.
The plaza OF st. Marks is the cen
tire OF attraction in Venice. The
church itself il a marvel The plaza
is inhabited by thousands of pigeons.
These pigeons alight on your head
and shoulders and eat corn from your
hand, half dozen OF them at time.
None of them are allowed to be kill
ed and they present beautiful pic
ture. We had our photographs tax
en with pigeons in front OF us.
There are stands around the plaza
where vendors for 20. poke. Hun
dreds Of thousands Of pokes are pur-
chased by visitors each year for the
feeding Of pigeons. Indeed, one
might az well not visit Venice as to
miss feeding the pigeons.
Venice is about 615 miles il cir
conference. Within its borders are
$50 canals and 378 bridges. There
are side walks here and there along
the water front, built at the level Of
high tide, but they are not continu-
Gus and IL one wants to practice pc
destrianism, he must dodge ever and
anon through houses to get any
where.
In the rear Of the houses, where
we have alleys, they have narrow
canals, but there are no gardens and
no stables. They don't need stables
where they have no horses.
The mosaics on the interior and
exterior OF st. Marks church are or
wonderful beauty. On the opposite
side OF the church from the plaza,
an immense clock tower rises. The
clock near it's top Is q remarkable
piece OF mechanism. "A unique fea-
ture is the apparatus for striking the
DN11 1nuICdL1HR InG QOuT.
On either side Of the bell is the
figure OF a man. AT the hour OF one,
one of these men strikes the bell
Five minutes later the other comes
out and strikes the other side.
At 2 each strikes once and i've
minutes later each repeats the per
Torrance. This is kept up the day
through. This clock is 1000 years
old.
The GOndOlier.
In the absence Of omnibus drivers,
trolley car men and chauffeurs the
gondolier Is the most important man
in the transportation affairs Of Ven
ice Without him you can't ride any
where. He is a picturesque figure and
unique. No other city has his coun-
terpart. The painter, the poet, and
the musical composer have all paid
him their tributes, but one has to see
him to appreciate him.
The row boat with which Ameri-
cans are familiar, has two oars and
the rover sits down to pull. The
gondola has one oar on which the
gondolier pushes, standing at the
helm. He Is himself an artist. He
turns corner with the greatest
grace imaginable and can pass anoth-
er boat with no more than an inch
between his and the other fellows
till he has cleared, and yet the
boats will act touch.
The gondola is about 25 feet long.
It is equipped with two chairs and
two benches for passengers. Goose
necks grace either end.
My first ambition was to take a
sail. So one night with several men,
bers OF the party residents Of Iowa,
L accepted an invitation to join par
ty for ride ON the Grand Canal. Ii
was stormy windy night and the
waves were continually dashing over
our boat I wasn't enjoying myself
very much, SO hailed a gondolier and
had him take me back to our hotel.
Tricky Traders.
Merchants are plentiful in Venice.
All sorts OF wares are offered, but
If one doesn't know the value of their
wares it is best not to buy.
7 wanted to buy a string Of beads
and saw one that struck my fancy. I
inquired the price and was told 10
Tires. 7 offered the fellow two and
he took me UP so quickly that 7 have
felt ever since that I have been stuck
on my bargain.
i went into another shop to look
at some necklaces. One of them was
"a beautiful ornament, containing
stones that the merchant claimed
were diamonds. Not being an expert
in such matters, can't tell whether
they were or not.
! asked the price. He quoted me
500 Tires. I told him he was too
high. He showed me others, cheaper
but told him / liked the first. Then
he told me 7 could have it for 600
lires. I persisted that he was still
too high. He tried to interest me in
others, but held to the first. Final
ly he came down to less than 300
hres. told him that 7 would see him
later. 7 may if he lives till make
my next trip to Venice.
Saw Italian Navy.
There were 20 Italian battleships
and torpedo boat destroyers in the
Grand Canal and they made beau
tiful spectacle.
Tt was at Venice that we first heard
rumors of war with Turkey and these
ships had assembled in anticipation
OF hostilities.
We took a trip to Lido Park, five
miles distant from Venice. The re-
sort is similar to Atlantic City, but
on a much smaller scale.
1t il a very beautiful place ant
immensely popular among bathers.
ITO be continued ]