Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-04-13
Mrs. Ennett Writes of What She
Saw In Naples and Venice.
Hotel Saveia & Jolanda,
Venice, Italy,
Feb. 16, 1911.
NV Dearest Mother:
Feb. 16, 1911


Each seems absolutely unique. and the
only thing of its kind on the globe.
Yet with all past experience. Venice
was such surprise that it fairly took
my breath, I had read about it, hac
heard about it and seen pictures of it,
but the real facts had not touched my
brain cell of comprehension. Just i'm
.agine a city of nearly two hundred
thousand people, and not a horse, q
carriage, an automobile nor a street
car, and no dust. The silence is broken
only by the sound of human voices and
the plash of the oars on the water, for
all the traffic is either on foot or by
boat.
Yesday when we got off the train it
was the most disconcerting situation
possible. We set out as usual to find a
hotel, which heretofore had been easy
enough with your feet on terra frn,a, "
but when it comes to water, as the old
woman said, 'twhere are you" Meth
-er knew any Italian, so l pressed my
poor French into service and asked sew
eral by-standers if it were possible to
reach hotel by walking. The answer
was, "It will be difficult" and difficult
it was can assure you, as we rowed in
and out of little alley ways, trying to
find a place to rest our weary bodies.
Both of us were thoroughly disgusted
and had visions of catching the first
train out, leaving behind any such
.'fool town" with water ways for
streets and boats for street cars.
Finally we gave up the struggle, and
surrendered ourselves to the tender
mercies of a wicked looking boatman
to be robbed or fieeced, so long as he
got us to hotel, but as matter of
fact he steered US around in a few min
,utes to the most beautiful scene that
eyes can picture. There was the grand
canal with marble palaces fronting on
its waters, and at st. Marks Square
(Which is the center of interest in the
life of Venice) we were put off, thor
oughly enchanted with our surround
ings. We lost no time getting located
at one of the hotels, and now feel like
we never wanted to leave it again.
AS it is easy to understand now why
Venice is called the "Queen of the
Adriatic. This is a broad, beautiful
square, with plenty of room for walk
ing and fine buildings on every side.
while hundreds of pigeons circling
around and overhead, gives a pic
turesque old-world touch to the scene,
which is unique. To the front we have
a wonderful view of blue waters cover
ed with ships, from small sailing craft
to battle ships of the nations. Best of
all are two American battle ships filled
with our own boys, many of whom are
from North and South Carolina, and as
we had an opportunity for talking to
some of them, we found them nice,
fine fellows.
The Olympia. the flag ship of the
fleet was here until to-day, and it made
me quite home sick to sit on the quay
and watch her steaming out of the har-
bor bound for Trieste. hear things
are looking rather war-like around that
city, so the little Olympia must show
herself :'on the job"
After getting settled and ready for
sight seeing, we started with St.
Mark s Cathedral-of course. Thought
I had already seen all the best in the
world, but according to local authori-
ties, l have seen none worth the name
till l saw this one. When it comes to
mosaics, 1 am not sure they are not
right. 1t is very gaudy inside, and
looks quite oriental-in fact l think
much of the work was done by artisans
brought from Constantinople, and many
of its treasures were captured from
that city. st. Mark himself is buried
here, and is the patron saint of the
city.
After that we fell into the hands of
member of the Salviati firm, who
make mosaics and ali sorts of beautiful
works of art for sale. This poor de.
luded gentleman saw we were Ameri,
cans, and as all Americans everywhere
are supposed to be lined with gold, he
gave US the whole afternoon, thinking
US good prospective buyers. We hac
no desire to deceive him and told hin
we were tourists, not buyers, but any
way he showed US most beautiful ar
ray of works of art for sale, while we
watched the artist at his work.
With all these works of art arounc
US, nothing interests me so much as the
people themselves. They have won
darful rnonners and are an kindly am