A WARNING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4739, 2 September 1893, Page 3

A WARNING.

The niost striking feature of Sfc Mask's, ' in Venice, ia tha profusion oJ mosaice, ■ ■which are said to cover 50,000 equate feet, and are much like faded paintings in I appearance. High up in. the facade, io tbo-. . Lion of St Mark, which one sees- repeated m every, material and manner- .■■■_■■ The author of a book called "-Colle^ei; Tramps" gives an experience with agiifdtt -: which suggests that Italiana.do not appiej ciate American h.umomJ6ts. ■ •__. ;,\ .ir..; :: : ; We passed out, he cays, into,lihe square,. glancing, as we went, at the.- work of. several artistßwho were busily putting upon their canvas the inisge cf the gorgeouti interior. .. . ■... : While in the cathedral, our guid^ -who waß pointing out and explaining the cir- : ferent objects of interest, waved his band : towards the -magnificent bronze altar, and - ' : whispered; impressively : I "QentlenieD, at ze bottom, under zis . grande altate, repose ze great San Marco, .• ze patron of Venezia. Beiß brought hero from Alexandreea, 1000 year." " • " Ah !" said N ,"he iB the genfclaman who owned the lion. Is— is he dead ?" The guide's face grew livid, and bin ! hand flew to his waist for bia stilt tto— it may have been for his handkerchief ; still, j his hand flew somewhere. ' < " Is you call I^larco Twain ? " he asked. "No," replied the trembling N— — ;. • " my name is not Mark Twain." The guide kindly refrained from further ! demonstrations, but muttered : " Zat Marco Twain have made one big fool of ze guide profession in Italia, and ■ 'all ze guide hayc con jurationed to> keel v.- : ; him» Boon aB ho comb ouce more ! " . - . ■ ! After that N— — wftß hie most p.atieut, auditor.