The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-05-30
TREASURES OF VENICE
HOW GIVEN PROTECTION
PECULIAR LOCATION OF CITY
MAY SAVE IT FROM lNvA-
SION BY HUNS.
New York Tribune)

Venice today Is like city of the
dead. The pictures of its canals and,
quays show the absolute removal Of
all the usual signs of human habita-
ton.
The place Is not simply deserted. 1t
has ceased to show any animation be-
yond few stoical citizens who clus-
ter in knots before the railway sta
ton in the evening to read the mill
tary bulletins or few British and
French officers, who buy souvenirs In
the Piazza di San Marco. During the
day on the Rialto a few women wear
ing dark shawls over their heads
struggle in and out of the empty
shops, while the children play in the
shelter of the arches. A basket or
two of vegetables only reveals to
vivid imagination what the Rialto
market was before the invasion came
and destroyed it's soothing cheerful
ness.
Danger From the Air.
The private lives of the people
about 10000 are left-have suddenly
been touched with the poisoned barb
of aerial warfare 1t is thrust among
them. Barbs fall from time to time,
and there Is a sign on the st. Marks
where an Austrian shell exploded. The
problem is to protect the mosacs of
ha oh ha hui i.,
fairly safe, being sheltered behind
parapets Of sandbags and heavy wood
en- beams. Most of the works of art
have been removed from the square,
pedestal Of Leonardo and verocchio's
statue of Colleoni. These and the
''loggetta" of Sansovino are protected
by sandbags, and a network of mas
of the Doges. The general impress
sion is distinctly weird. Sandbags are
everywhere, and the greatest care has
been taken to cover the wonderful six
teenth century facade.
As for 81. Marks place, it is desert
ed except that the pigeons and soil
tary man who scatters grain for them
remain.
Art Treasures Barricaded.
The correspondent, whose curiosity
has been whetted by the beauty OF
old Venice and who desires some
knowledge of the conditions of the
city's life, finds 1t desolate. The mon
uments and statues are barricaded.
the hotels are closed and so are the
cafes, the Orientale, MANN and even
the celebrated Cafe Florian, which
has not shut it's doors for more than
100 years The cityus haunted by the
ghosts OF war of invasion, it's beau
ty menaced by the terrible scourge
"tedesco"
1t Is surprising that the population
stranded in the lagoons can find any
thing to enjoy. But they manage to
keep up their spirits in the evening,
when the news of the day is published.
There are also two cinema shows GO
ing-a curious sign Of the appeal that
motion pictures have at all times
May Escape Invasion.
The Venetans see their unusual
world gone to pieces, suddenly envel-
oped in the storm that has swept over
their placid unsuspecting lives.
Though II must be long time before
conditions favorable to real security
can prevail in Venice, by the accident
of geography the city may escape ac-
tual invasion. 1t is evidently stoutly
defended by the army and navy, and
no secret is made of the presence Of
British force. Any one who knows
Venice and the surrounding country
can hopefully look forward to sue
cessful defense and ultimate victory.