Smyrna times., 1936-07-16
KEEN RACE SET
FOR GONDLIERS
Romantic Crafts Are Back
on Canals of
Venice
LIKE "FIFTH AVENUE"

Washington.-Competition is keen
this spring among the gondoliers of
Venice. Recently hundreds of re-
tired gondolas were reconditioned
and placed in service.
The Italo Ethiopian war had
something to do with the return of
the old craft. Motor launches, US
ing more oil than automobiles, were
banned.
TN recent years Venetian Condo
las have existed only on suffer
ance," says the National Geograph-
ic society. Tourists have remained
true to this picturesque means of
transportation, but Venetian bust
ness men have found it quicker and
cheaper to travel by motor launch
or by the steamers that ply the
length Of the Grand canal.
american tourists, who have per-
haps ridden in gaily-colored Condo
las at world fairs or Florida re-
sorts, are usually disappointed at
their first sight of Venice's SOM
Der ones. Since the Sixteenth CEN
tury, the latter have been black by
law, but the pail. or ornamental
'hitching posts to which they are
tied between trips, are far from
somber, frequently being carved.
striped, and as gay as BARRIERS poles.
Iikened to Fifth Avenue.
Long and slender, with both bow
and stern upcurved, a gondOla is a
light draft boat, and each stroke of
the -gondolier's oar sends it skim
ming over the waters surface. The
passengers, usually numbering from
| one to six, ride ON cushioned seats
in the center. In windy weather a
trip across one of the lagoons may
be disturbing, otherwise the con-
stant, very slight rolling Of the gon-
dola is quite pleasant.
stepping into a gondola's open
cockpit from the slippery, wave
washed steps of the Molo, leading
cab stand of Venice, one glides ov-
er the water, with its quivering
rose and gray reflections, and en-
ters the Grand canal, the Italian
city's aquatic Fifth avenue. The
waters of the canal lick the green
stained foundations Of weather
beaten marble palaces, mansions
and hotels that rise like canyon
walls on either side.
There are numerous side canals.
In these picturesque byways one
slips along under lines Of poly
chrome washing strung overhead,
and balconies crowded with gera-
NUNS, past pink walls festooned
with white roses, and courtyards
whose gates are topped by Clipped
stone statues. The byways are al
most noiseless except for the splash
of oars, mingled with the ringing of
distant church bells, and, at the
crossings, the eondalier's cries of
warning.
Exciting After Dark.
"A gondola trip is most exciting
after dark. Then one may glide in
to damp white mists on the lagoon,
or into a silent byway, the dark
ness of which Is infrequently bro.
ken by splashes Of light from flank
ing buildings. Skimming into the
deep shadows Of bridges, and past
mysterious doorways opening onto
the canal, one is apt to come to a
moored gondola and In 1t, In imagi-
nation, find Shelley reading by the
light of its little brass lamp.
"One gondcla trip usually made
by every Venetian, no matter how
poor, is that to San Michele, the
city's cemetery which lies on an is
land in the lagoon north of Venice.
A single gondola to carry coffin and
mourners may be the sole funeral
transportation equipment Of poor
family. The funeral Of . well-to-do