"Beautiful Venice" -
July 24, 1879Just 24 hours since we came into this most charming city - I dont know where to begin in telling you about what has happened since my last Sunday's letter. I sent you a postal from Vernoa which I dare say you will never get as I forgot to put on extra postage, so will repeat a little & tell you much more when I see you -
From Bellagio we took the boat to Como - stopped about 2 hours there - changed our mountain rig for our city one - . Left almost every thing there, in the baggage line and took cars for Verona "2 gentlemen of Verona" was about all I could say that I knew of this place_ But how astonished I was when we reached the place.
The very atmosphere seemed to be laden with theThere was a very ancient air about the place - the old amphitheater completely surprised & delighted me. I did not expect to see any thing so nearly like Rome. 70000 persons could gain access to this amphitheater - I cant tell you how strange it seemed to be standing where those old martyrs met their death in the days of old Direction for it was this amphi theater Romeo & Juliet lived here - The town is fortified quite strongly. Soldiers stand at the city gates to watch all that go in or out
[change to pencil]
I cant endure that pen any longer - just as tho' we were living in the days when an enemy was likely to surprise a town - in the day of telegraph & railroads.
From Verona to Venice last night. We came to a Hotel recommended by Miss Blanchard - Hotel Aurora a regular German good hotel. It is right near the Piazza of St. Mark - where every thing of interest is, & also on fronting on the sea - we nearly [?] all of us have front rooms & Fraulein Finke is the nicest German women [sic] we have seen -
10 1/2 o clock - We five have had our "Carnival of Venice" this evening - since writing the first part of this letter I have been to a high toned affair, called a fair for the benefit of the orphan asylum and it happened to be a grand chance to see "the beauty and the chivalry" of this remarkable city -
We four girls took Mrs. Wilson as our chaperon, and we had the finest kind of a time - staid to hear only 1/2 the musical programme_ The gondolas with their bright lights & white dressed gondoliers - the gay & festive scenes of the royal gardens we shall not forget right away. Had some amusement in watching the "cookies" as well call the party of 60 who arrives yesterday when we did -
Sunday night - continued
We leave here to morrow morning at 9 o'clock and I must write only a few words more -
Last evening we all turned out to see the Opera so famous the world over, "L'Troubadour", and the Italian audience which was of about as much interest to us, and we were repaid - The music was exquisite and the audience was appreciative if one could judge by the demonstrations of the notorious excitable Italian nature - They all sing - are all musicians I should think[.] We have heard singing by knots of people on the street of [?] an evening - out here opposite our hotel, that was charming. The music is so good both instrumental & vocal. Bands of music are first best -
We sung tonight as we were floating by those old palaces "mid pleasures & palaces" &c and it went well - we were in the spirit of it -.
The moon light is as fine as we wanted it to be this last evening of our stay in Venice - We have concluded that there is a bluer sky hung over Italy than over any other port of the world. We have had so much! in fact every thing has happened just about right for us while here - We should have gone to Florence, Pisa & Genoa instead of going directly back to come thro' Milan, if it had not been such warm weather, but it is really too trying weather for such mountaineers as we are, so we have concluded to dispense with a few hundred more Madonnas & Shrines [?] in general & particular and get back into the mountains -
The picture gallery is getting even now to be well, we want a rest - I am not a good judge of such things - There is too much red & blue in most of them to suit my taste - Don't imagine, however, that I am totally indifferent to every thing in this line. I only want a rest just now. I think we shall be ready for some more when we get to the Louvre in Paris - That is the only other one that we shall visit, now I expect. We have an extra week, you know. Have I thought to tell you that we dont sail until the 16th of Sep. instead of the 5th as given in the itinerary. We now expect to take that time in England - Shall walk some then I hope - Franc Dean wants to arrange to go home with us. We shall see her in Paris - I met an old Sem. girl on the street yesterday -
This Italian language is so musical. Only the vowel sounds are uttered one would think - not the most vigorous, but the most musical. Every word ends with an a, e, or o, mostly o
Good nighto [sic] will write from our next stopping place Ride all day tomorrow in cars - dreadfully slow trains -
[unsigned but written by Cornelia Clapp]