The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-07-08
VENICE IS THE
GREATEST OF
TREASURES
of The World Upon the Threat
,eIled Frontiers of the War
RING Countries.

| " = -
WASHINGTON, July. There are
numerous things of priceless value
/ to the world upon the threatened
frontiers of the warning countries,
and among the richest of these trea-
sures is Venice. the dream OF genera
tons of tourists. of students of art
and history. and of lovers of romance
and beauty. Few cities In the world
receive veneration from more widely
scattered sources and few stir SO
many pleasant anticipations on the
eve of a first visit to them. This year,
however, the city will be deserted by
It's visitors. Venice, a honeymoon
objective and the tourists earliest
cross-sea aspiration has become an
objective for Austrian air fleets and
Ebattleships. Something of the charm
of this city of world-pilgrimage is
told by one of its most noted friends,
Karl fStieler. whose picture of the
la bulletin just issued by the National
Geographic Society," He writes:
1T is Sphinx.
Before the Campanile. we realize
for the first time the widespread
power of Venice, that fairy city which
sprang not from the earth. but the
LOT the East and yet mistress of all
western culture-so rich in arts and
arms, in loves and hatred! Venice
lis a sphinx whose enigma we never
wholly penetrate. In vain we strive
to find an image that shall express
her mysterious absence. The unique
brooks no comparisons.
LAS in the old times. even SO today.
the center of life and movement IS
the Piazza of ST. Marks although 1t
offers but a pale shadow of the life
Eof form0r days. Here on sunny
mornings all the foreigners assemble;
here lounge the ciceront, and on the
neighboring piazzetta the gondolieIs
their way among the chairs that are
out In front OF the cafes under the
open, arcade.
But the most brilliant spectacle Isl
at night, when hundreds of gas-tets
are alight in the huge, bronze Candida
bra, when the gold sparkles in the
jewellers windows and the sound OF
gay music is borne across the piazza.
Then the crowd gathers from all
sides. Here come the nobili with.
their wives. The gondolas thEong to-
the piazzetta, and the mercerta seems.
far too narrow for the press of the
people.
saThe noise and the passion. which
runs through the publicity of-Italian
life continue deep into the night;
then last hasty words are spoken, yet.
one more stolen glance is shot from
beautiful eyes, and the happy indtvt-
dual for whom it is intended under
stands the farewell. Around the
steps of the piazzetta-an of white,
marble, so that you cannot miss them,
even at night-the gondolas gather
again and then separate on their diff
ferent ways through the dark and
dead-silent canals.
Stands Alone.
est. Marks stands alone among the
temples of the world. Although age
and the moist sea air have spread
their veil over the walls, yet the.
brilliant coloring and the mighty OUT
lines shine through all the gray dim
ness of the past. The bronze horses
above the great door are rearing; the
cupolas and arches stretch their great
curves in intensity of power; each.
portion of the great building seems
alive and animated; yet in the whole
reigns the profound and noble peace
proper to the house of God.
1T is now exactly 500 years ago
since the building of st. Marks was
completed; its ecclesiastical sanct1tys
is bestowed on it by the relics OF the
great evangelist: its historical sane
tity consists in its Intimate connec-,
ton with the fortunes of the city and
of her rulers It was the theater OF
their triumphs and the refuge forf
their cares: all that she has achieved
and suffered Venice has done under
the protecting wing of st. Mark.
1.-The Church of st. Mark contains
trophies from all parts OF the world;
every stone has history. Those two
great pillars at the entrance to the
baptistery were part of the booty of
once in the Church of ST. Sophia at
Stamboul. The marble columns.
STANDING right and left of the main
portal. are said to have been taken
from the Temple in Jerusalem. the
famous group of four horses. which
stands above the main portal. is of
the antique Roman period and was
for long time In Byzentium. the
capital of the Empire OF the West
The Doge Dandolo. at the age OF 3d.
led on the venetians to the storming
nearly blind, but a fiery life still
glowed in his veins.
The DucnI Palace.
what st. Marks is as the express
sion of the religious spirit. that the
Ducal Palace is ff-r the secular power
of Venice, it has scarcely a rival. even
in italy. The Doge's Palace, as 1t
now stands before us, was begun in
the fourteenth century and completed
/ IA the hfteenth after long Interrupt
ton. Here every line is classic. The
yerv position Of the palace, its rela-
ton to the Church of st. Marx. its
two fronts-oae commanding the