A GARDEN IN VENICE 



the tubes and casing the faulty ones as they lay 

 with Portland cement. This answered perfectly 

 at small cost, and the doing it gave much amuse- 

 ment to me and my gondoliers. If you can't 

 model busts it is more useful and not bad fun 

 casing gas-pipes. 



The water led from the vaschettine passed 

 into the vasca grande and did me there a 

 mischief without remedy. The day after its 

 introduction my poor goldfish, who, in the rain- 

 water of their tank, increased and multiplied as 

 do Italian children of the outdoor working class 

 (a larger reproduction could not be), came to 

 the surface, but alas, with bellies uppermost and 

 heads out of water seeking air instead of bread- 

 crumbs. 



They all died, poor fish, in a few days, sent 

 off their heads perhaps by the iron in the water. 

 The water-lilies that were thick and very 

 floriferous did the same. And yet the water is 

 very wholesome. My people drink it rather 

 than cross my bridge to fill their pitchers from 

 the aqueducts. My cows love it and thrive on 



IOI 



