The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-10-22
VENICE DURING WAR
Practically Closed to Visitors of
Every Nationality.
The Gondola and the Pigeons Of St.
Marks Square, the clty's Two Chief
characteristics. Threatened
With Destruction.
BY cAMlLLo clANFARRA.


BY CAMILLE ClANFARRA.
international News Service
Venice.-Of all the threats and per
lis which the eXigencies Of modern
progress, and the requirements OF
modern life have heaped on Venl16
and her unique quaint beauty, those
resulting from war are practically the
worst, as they threaten to destroy
two Of Venice's chief characteristics,
the gondola and the pigeons of ST,
Marks square
Venice saw her last brilliant season
IN the spring of 1914. AS to the sum.
mer bathing season, It was hastily IN
terrupted at its height by the sudden
outbreak Of hostilities Owing TO her
position, TO the fact that she possesses
one of the most important military ar.
senals of Italy and that she is the
seat of the maritime defense OF the
Adriatic, the city has since then been
practically closed to visitors of every
nationality.
After ltaly's intervention Venice be-.
came a sort of Asiatic forbidden city.
and not even Italians are admitted
without a special permit from the
commander in chief. This permit.
however, Is only issued 10 those who
can prove to the satisfaction Of the
nquisitorial authorities that they have
legitimate business to transact within
the city boundaries, and is invariably
temporary ldlers. curiosity mougers.
and the socal'ed lovers of the pictur.
esque. are ineyorably excluded As
to the newspaper men-well Admiral
Cutinelli regards them as the most
undesirable Of all, whether they be
Italians or from the allied countries
The first result Of the stringent
measures adopted by the military au-
thorities concerning the soJourn OF
foreigners. was a general closing Of
all large hotels and the Transforming
OF the Lido into sort of huge sani-
tarium wher" thousands Of conva-
lescing soldiers now bask in the sun
wrapped in long white tmics 4auG
await the time for returning to thr
front TO finish the job. Win tn
hotels scores of curio. lace and oth"r
shops closed TO save expenses while
waiting for the return of the good
times.
But those who have suffered most
from the absence of visitors are the
thousands of pigeons nesting in the
and towers Of Venices fa-
nous square. II is well-known fact |
that the few pounds Of Indian corn
the municipality provides for their |
are anything but sufti-
cient prnDerly to nourish the poor
creatures. and that 1t was the charity
)f the tourists which in former years
md at all seasons provided them with
food.
But now. the familiar sight Hf the
Nd English lady or the Young Ameri
enter If the square is no longer to
- seen and the poor birds vainly clus.
er around the man who stops to ad-
nire this or that facade or the fres-
oes of St Marks. The corn venders.
.nown n thousands of Americans by
heir first name. are there as usual.
,ut the purchasers are few. and the
ooing pigeons flv back disappointed
If late the pigeons have begun to emf
rate to avoid starvation
AS to the gondolas and the Condo.
ers. they have suffered terribly from
he war, and their fate resembles much
hat Of e pigeons. Il was the tour
It and the wealthy visitor who pat.
onized the gondOier. and their alb.
ence from the citv for more than a
ear ha compelled scores of gondola
roprietors tc go out Of business and
ell their outfit at a sacrifice.
The goadolier. the thick.set sun
urned. muscular specimen of human {
Y. that sent the gondOla skimming !
0 wards over the CLASSY surface at {
very stroke Of the long oar, has dis. {
Dpeare1 with the mobilization and is /
ow either at the front or serving on I
ne of the men.of-war cruising the {
driatic Only a few old ones are I
#. and the visitor VINO now crosses {
le Grand canal is painfully IMPRESSED \
Y the small number gondoas in
,rvice. r
AT sunset, VIXEN the cupolas the {
1mes and the spires Of Venice gilt.
r under the last rays of the parting v
III the spectacle presented bv the c
Iuares is even more saddpnihg Navy b
iicers in Immaculate white uniforms {
I'd army officers in gray have long n
placed the variegated fashionable. [
ealthy crowd that in former wears v
Ided to Venices charm and pictnr 1
queness. and tell in unmistakaDle e
ords the story of Italy at war b
Yet Venice is resigned no one cGm 4
aims; every class has sacrificed on 6
e altar OF patriotism its own pr 6
tie interests.