Intely necessary on account of lack of 

 food. In fact, the Doges had issued a 

 decree that on the morrow the city 

 should surrender unconditionally. 



All was gloom and sorrow, and the 

 populace stood around in groups on 

 the San Marco discussing the situation 

 and bewailing their fate, when lo ! in 

 the eastern slvy there appeared a dense 

 cloud rushing upon the city with the 

 speed of the wind. At first consterna- 

 tion reigned supreme, and men asked 

 each other "What new calamity is 

 this.'''' As the cloud swiftly approached 

 it was seen to be a vast number of 

 Doves, which, after hovering over the 

 San Marco Place for a moment, grace- 

 fully settled down upon the flagstones 

 and approached the men without fear. 

 Then there arose a queer cry, "The 

 Doves ! The Doves of San Marco ! " It 

 appears that some years before this a 

 Kage had predicted stormy times for 

 Venice, with much suffering and strife, 

 but, when all seemed lost, there would 

 appear a multitude of Doves, who 

 would bring Venice peace and happi- 

 ness. And so it came to pass that the 

 next day, instead of attacking, the 

 besiegers left, and Venice was free 

 again. The prophet also stated that, 

 ■ so long as the Doves remained at Ven- 

 ice prosperity would reign supreme, 

 but that there would come a day when 

 the Doves would leave just as they had 



come, and Venice would pass into^ 

 oblivion. That is why Venetians take 

 such good care of their Doves. 



You will not find this legend in any 

 history, but I give it just as it was 

 told me by a guide, who seemed well 

 versed in hair-raising legends. Possi- 

 bly they were manufactured to order 

 by this energetic gentleman, but they 

 sounded well nevertheless. Even to 

 this day the old men of Venice fear 

 that some morning they will awake 

 and find their Doves gone. 



There in the shadow of the famous 

 bell-tower, with the stately San Marca 

 church on one side and the palace of 

 the cruel and murderous Doges on the 

 other, we daily find our pretty Doves 

 coaxing for bread. Often you will 

 find them peering down into the dark 

 passage-way in the palace, which leads 

 to the dungeons underneath the Grand 

 Canal. What a boon a sight of these 

 messengers of peace would hav^e been 

 to the doomed inmates of these mur- 

 der-reeking caves. But happily they 

 are now deserted, and are used only as 

 a source of revenue, which is paid by 

 the inquisitive tourist. 



Venice still remains as of old. She 

 never changes, and the Doves of San 

 Marco will still remain. May we hope, 

 with the sages of Venice, that they 

 may remain forever. — Lehert^ in Cifu 

 cinnati Commercial Gazette. 



69 



