The harbor

Your again to the harbor

You have got been strolling away from the ocean, together with your again to the harbor, and right here is one other, however minute, harbor nestling beneath an amazing fortress wall above which, in a backyard, some younger troopers are idly leaning and laughing beneath timber with leaves of gold and red-brown. Brightly painted vessels, intently packed collectively, lie on the blue-green water. Past them are the timber of Blazekovic Park. And simply beneath you, in your proper, is the nice, yellow stone Porta di Terra Ferma, with its winged lion of St. Mark. Past, over the slender exit from the harbor, the landlocked Canale di Zara, which typically, particularly at night, jogged my memory of the Venice lagoons, lies glittering within the solar. And a Venetian fort on the height of Ugljan exhibits like an odd and decided shadow in opposition to the blue of the sky.

The good white campanile which dominates Zara, and which from the ocean seems mild and swish, is the campanile of the duomo, Sant’ Anastasia, and was partly constructed by the Venetians, and accomplished not a few years in the past. From the slender road which skirts the duomo this campanile, although majestic, seems heavy and virtually overwhelming, too large, too tremendously stable, for the little city during which it’s set. And its blanched hue, stunning from the ocean, has a reasonably disagreeable impact in opposition to the deep, time-worn shade of the church, the facade of which, with its two rose home windows, one giant, one small, its three stunning, mellow-toned doorways, and its curious and by some means touching, although stolid, statues, could be very superb. The inside, not specifically fascinating, comprises some wonderful Gothic stalls courting from the fifteenth century. They’re of black wooden, relieved with bosses and tiny statuettes of brilliant gold, and above each is the half-length of a gilded and painted man, sporting a beard and holding a scroll. The Porta Marina, by way of which the chief harbor is gained, is outstanding for its carved, dark-gray lion, companioned by two white cherubs of stone brilliantly lively regardless of their virtually terrifying weight problems. One of the stunning issues in Zara is the fragile and beautiful campanile of Santa Maria, over 600 years previous. St. Grisogono, the church of town’s patron saint, was within the arms of workmen and couldn’t be visited after I was in Dalmatia.

Entire of Zara is surrounded by water

Virtually the entire of Zara is surrounded by water. On the nice partitions of the traditional fortifications are gardens, and from these gardens you look down on quiet inlets of the ocean. Outdated buildings, previous partitions and gardens, tiny, medieval streets by way of which no carriage ever passes, fountains, lion gateways, painted boats mendacity on clear and apparently motion-less waters shut in from the open sea by lengthy traces of mountainous islands, pine-trees and olives and golden vineyards, and over all an historical music of bells. It’s tough to say good-by to Zara, despite the fact that Spalato sends out a summons from the ri- viera of pink and of gold, despite the fact that Ragusa calls from its leafy groves beneath the Fort Imperiale.

Dalmatia

Dalmatia to the common traveler

Zara, Trau, Spalato, Ragusa, Castelnuovo, Cat- taro, Scbcnico—these, with two or three different locations, symbolize Dalmatia to the common traveler. Ragusa is, maybe, the most well-liked and fascinating; Spalato probably the most populous and energetic; Cat- taro probably the most exceptional scenically. Trau leaves a haunting reminiscence within the thoughts of him who sees it. Castelnuovo is a bit of paradise marred in a point by the troopers who infest it, and who appear unusually misplaced in its tiny methods and its tree- shaded piazza on the hilltop. However Zara has a peculiar allure, half homosexual, half brightly tender. And nowhere else in all Dalmatia are such beautiful results of sunshine wedded to water to be seen as on Zara’s Canale.

Zara, like different sirens, is misleading. Town has – a face which supplies little indication of its soul. Alongside the shore lie tall and cheerful homes,—nearly palaces they’re,—stable and large, fashionable, with home windows opening to the ocean, and separated from it solely by a broad stroll, edged by a strip of pavement, from which is likely to be taken a dive into the limpid water. And right here, when the ship tied up, a well-dressed throng of joyous residents was taking the air. Youngsters have been enjoying and laughing. Two or three rowboats slipped via the gold and silver which the solar, simply setting behind the island of Ugljan reverse, showered towards town. Music got here from some place of leisure. A easy liveliness recommended affluent properties, the well-being of a group aside, which selected to dwell “out of the world,” away from railroads, motor-cars, and carriage site visitors, however which knew how you can be fashionable in its personal quiet and decorous method.

Nice hovering campanile

But Zara had a fantastic hovering campanile—it had been seen far off at sea—and tiny streets and outdated buildings, San Donato, the duomo, San Simeone; and 5 fountains,—the cinque pozzi,—and a Venetian tower,—the Torre di Buovo d’Antona,—and fortifi-cation gardens, and lion gateways. The place have been all these? A sound of bells got here from behind the pal-aces. And these bells gave the impression to be proclaiming the reality of Zara.

Bells ringing in hidden locations behind the palaces; bells calling throughout unusual gardens lifted excessive on mighty partitions; bells whispering amongst pines and murmuring throughout inexperienced depths of glass-like water; bells chiming above the yellowing vines on tiny islands! Who that remembers Zara remembers not Zara’s bells?

Depraved Frivolity

Inside a 12 months this son met his loss of life while engaged in depraved frivolity.

Dan, the opposite son, remained at residence, however his conduct was so very unsatisfactory that his mom took it a lot to coronary heart with the outcome that she grew to become significantly sick and in the end died. Her loss of life was adopted by the passing away of the aged grandmother. Samuel now despatched for his son and mentioned to him : “ Alas ! my son, your evil conduct has introduced your expensive mom to her grave. I do know that my days are additionally numbered. I shall quickly be together with her and you can be alone on this planet. You’ll inherit all my wealth. I bid you keep in mind the way it all got here to me in at some point; it might additionally depart in at some point. You gamble, you might have evil companions who observe you for the sake of achieve. You despise the poor, and I grieve to suppose you neglect God. Repent, my son, now while the chance presents itself. It could be too late to-morrow, since there isn’t any man alive who is aware of when he could also be referred to as from this earth. I can not provide help to if you’ll not assist your self. Now go, and see in the event you can not change your conduct. ”

With these phrases ringing in his ears, the lad left his father’s presence and directly betook himself to his evil companions. He advised them of the interview which he had simply had together with his father. They persuaded him to suppose that every one would finally be properly, since he was the one son and inheritor. They even reminded him that at some point he would possess the immense fortune of his wealthy father. Throughout the subsequent few weeks the daddy died.

With the loss of life of Bamuel

With the loss of life of Bamuel, the glory and honour of his title handed away. The immense wealth, of which everyone was talking, additionally appeared to fade. Dan discovered life insufferable in his father’s giant home. He allowed it to be uncared for, and the doorways have been shut. The poor knocked in useless and went away unanswered. Dan gambled day and night time. He grew to become extra reckless than ever. Sick-fortune appeared to canine his footsteps. Failure and disappointment have been marked throughout his path. “Would possibly-have-been,” mentioned Ids father’s pals, after they noticed him move.

The fortunate star of Samuel had set, by no means to rise once more. Ultimately Dan resolved to really danger all he possessed in a final mad gamble to regain all his earlier losses. He once more misplaced and located himself penniless. Regret started to the touch his coronary heart. He hurried residence and threw himself upon his mattress. He wept until he may weep no extra.