The Pigeons of St. Mark's

New Zealand Tablet, 25 October 1906, Page 33

The Pigeons of St. Mark's

In front of the . Church of St. Mark, where fair Venice smiles, over the lagoons, lies the Piazza, an ■ open square- extending -to- the water's edge (says a writer: in the ' Aye Maria'). Here the people gather at sunset to seet he beautiful view" across the water, and to watch the pigeons of St. Mark's a% their evening .meal.

The Church, -of- St. Mark" -" was fouttt many years ago, a-nd it looks like a Turkish mosque, with its dome and many little cupolas. Beside it stood the campanile, before that wonderful bell-tower fell to the" ground; a»a at the other' side is the Doge's Palace. Ihe Doges were the old rulers of Venice before the city became a part of Italy. Some of (them --were great men, although others were very stern and cruel - One seems to . have- 'been kind: and full "of gentle thoughts', and it is due to Mm that we have today the^ pretty pigeons of St. Mark's, fluttering like wlute-wMiged angels over the great square. The story tells how there was a terrible war between ithe brave people of Venice- and the cruel Turks, who captured many Christians and made them slaves, whipping and beating them ; forcing the women to marry heathen men, and killing such as * would not become Mahommedans. The Venetians sent out a great fleet under the command of Admiral Dandalo, and he fought artd captured the island of Candia. Great was the rejoicing in the fleet, and loud cries of joy were heard from all sides ; for Candia was then a most important island. All desired to send home" word of the glorious victory, but knew not how ; for no, ship could be spared to sail away to Venice with the ' news. At last they hit upon a plan. There were with the fleet two. pigeons— lovely, snowy thangs-lbelongin-g to a young officer who had thought to send them to his beloved wife,-and these he offered to the Admiral, .A letter was tied -about the throat of each pigeon— one to the officer's wife and one to the Doge— and they were tossed into the air. All watched eagerly to see what they would do A moment each hovered aloft, poised over "the ships ; then with a glad whir of wings, away they flew toward their Jiome upon the sapphire Adriatic, bearing - the glad news of the young officer's safety and of tie great victory. Then great Was . the" rejoicing of ail the city. Flags and banners were unfurled in every square, houses and palaces were decorated, and a crowd of happy people sought -St. Mark's Square to near the Doge make his proclamation.. v Sp ] en ' di ' d old fiellow stood forth upon ihe Pi- - azza, robod in red velvet, -wearing a massive golden chain and the Doge's cap, and said to the people : ay a white-winged bird of peace learned we this gracious news, and henceforth it is our good pleasure - that suoh be called forever the pigeons of St. Mark's. r° i , J^ i tender the hospitality of our city, Queen oi the Adriatic ; and every day shall they and their - descendants -be fed •at public expense. Their home shall be the Palace of the Doges; their dming-hall. the ne AdrfaUc a ' ZZa ' thCir ' titlG| Friends of the Q ueen o£ All the people shouted lustily, and rejoiced greatly and men,: women, and children vied with one another as to who should throw corn to the little messengers whose flight had brought so much happiness. lne pigeons .nested in the eaves of St. Mark's • a °SJ r ?? of llttle broods chimed in with even-song and Matins, and there they grew and thrived. When their young sought to nest, some built in the Doge's Palace and some m the Lion of St. Mark's ; and so ?^ XL WaS *??„ °lt y o£ them that no one was allowed ++v *£• ■ them ' smi every d ay the y were fed at the public expense. . . «i«r Ji«*w Was lli i ie hundred years ago, and still the KSS&^h" "^ tter above the S^ at st J uarc - Ea <* evening they are fed-men with baskets of corn selSS+J,r o e + bb y stan( ters, who love to feed the pretty «»+?£! ° tam< ! a^ they ihat will crowd abf.««r L q a S U h^ u P° n the shoulders of -the +KS ? iT;J^°S. fl0 S ks of them fanwini s his face w ith Rt mS? 'q 6Oi th€ P retti est sights in Venice is terinf^wv 8 '^ 1 ' 6 ' *}*** as sn °wdrift with' the flut- ' termg snowy wmgs of the columbi (doves).