Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-06-24
a house left foot first, on the other
hand. are sad misfortunes.
ONCE, A GREAT SEAPORT

ONCE A GREAT SEAPORT.
Aquileia, one of the first towns captur-
ed by the Italians In their storm across
the Austrian borders at tho head of the
Adriatic. is situated six miles back from
the Adratc sea, at the edge of
the lagoons, In the Austrian prov
ince of Goerz and Fradisca, was once
great and flourishing seaport at one time
ranking as the second city of Italy. It
was, in those days, one of the mightiost
bulwarks OF the Roman Empire against
tho pressing hordes of outside barbarlans
a city Of proud walls and wide bespoken
splendor. As late as the end of the 4th
century, Ausonius placed it ninth on the
list of the great cities Of the earth
Triest, the great seaport of to-day,
is about IS miles distant to the south
west All the marks of the prosperity
and Importance of Aquiela have fled to
Trest, In the east, and to Venice, in the
west. The once busy harbor is choked
with silt and drifting dunes, while RATS
and fishing boats are almost the only
craft that now thread the varying chan
nels. The modern village, counting 230D
people, is unhealthy on account of it's
rice fields; is neglected and forgotten.
Aquileia is a grave of past achievement,
and a much weathered monument to the
world Of the Roman Age. It's museum
is rich in trophies of Roman times, and
its ancient cathedral and the remains Of
the Patriarchs palace are it's most elo-
quent, concrete memories. Aquileia as
is much of the northern and western
coast of the Adriatic, is n rich field for
psychologists and antiquarians.
The city is said to have been colonized
by the Romans rs a frontier fortress
against the Celts in 1873 e. c. In 16S A.
D. Marcus Aurelius made It one of the
strongest fortified positions In the empire
During the 10000 mark. Attla destroy
reached the 100000 mark. Attila destroy
cd the city in 40 a. D.. and it never
recovered its greatness. Aqhleia was
great and strong only throughout its
Roman history. when, during it's prime
1t ranked Immediately after the Eternal
city. itself Its fortunes We're those Of
the Roman world, and modern Italy, look
ing back over the gulf OF centuries, feel.
itself, not only the descendant but also
the heir Of Latin Rome.
GRADO THE PORT OF AQUtLE1A.
Grade is the port of Aquilea, situated
on the island sand dunes at the outer.
most edge of the Venetian Lagoon. 1t Is
a more important village to-day than the
city that It formerly served. and once
bitterly rivaled Grade, at least, has som,
! present renown; for the products of It:
sardine and concerning factories enjoy
a bright reputation in northern Italy
and along the west Adriatic while they
al n fp n Epn IA l1a int n
as Vienna.
! Grade was founded in 452 a. d, as 6
naval harhor when Aquileia became
naval station in the lettering Roman En-
pire. After the fall Of the empire, Grade
came under the power of the Venetian
Republic. There followed generations o
rivalry between Grade and Aqu,eia-th,
two cities are about seven miles apart
this struggle representing the struggle OF
the empire against Venice. From $40 &c
! I'll, Grade was the seat of a patriarch
ate. later removed to Venice. 1t still pos
sesses a cathedral built in 456 by the Pa
triarch Niccta
| Grade has a well-developod fishing in
dustry that largely gives enjoyment &c
It's $500 Inhabitants. 1t is a square town
with narrow streets, picturesque build
ings, numerous courtyards and many
testimonials Of brighter hygone days. T,
is built on one Of the island chain that
stretches from the mouth of the lsonZC
to that of the Brenta, toward Venice
Many of its present buildings are slight
huts Of reeds, the homes of its AdratIC
fishermen. Most Of the people of Grade
are Italians speaking During recent
years, the city has developed a certain
| interest as a watering place.