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record the splendors and display of the ceremonial with which the
gray…haired old doge； Cristofero Moro； in the great hall of the
palace； surrounded by the senators of the Republic and all the
rank and power of the State of Venice； formally adopted Catarina
as a 〃daughter of the Republic。〃 Thus to the dignity of her
father's house was added the majesty of the great Republic。 Her
marriage portion was placed at one hundred thousand ducats； and
Cyprus was granted； on behalf of this 〃daughter of the Republic；〃
the alliance and protection of Venice。
The ambassador of Cyprus standing before the altar of St。 Mark's
as the personal representative of his master； King Giacomo was
married 〃by proxy〃 to the young Venetian girl； while the doge；
representing her new father； the republic； gave her
away in marriage； and Catarina Cornaro； amid the blessings of the
priests； the shouts of the people； and the demonstrations of
clashing music and waving banners； was solemnly proclaimed Queen
of Cyprus； of Jerusalem； and of Armenia。
But the gorgeous display； before which even the fabled wonders of
the 〃Arabian Nights〃 were but poor affairs； did not conclude
here。 Following the splendors of the marriage ceremony and the
wedding…feast； came the pageant of departure。 The Grand Canal was
ablaze with gorgeous colors and decorations。 The broad
water…steps of the Piazza of St。 Mark was soft with carpets of
tapestry； and at the foot of the stairs floated the most
beautiful boat in the world； the Bucentaur or state gondola； of
Venice。 Its high； carved prow and framework were one mass of
golden decorations。 White statues of the saints； carved heads of
the lion of St。 Mark； the doge's cap； and the emblems of the
Republic adorned it throughout。 Silken streamers of blue and
scarlet floated from its standards； and its sides were draped in
velvet hangings of crimson and royal purple。 The long oars were
scarlet and gold； and the rowers were resplendent in suits of
blue and silver。 A great velvet…covered throne stood on the upper
deck； and at its right was a chair of state； glistening with
gold。
Down the tapestried stairway came the Doge of Venice； and；
resting upon his arm； in a white bridal dress covered with
pearls； walked the girl queen Catarina。 Doge and daughter seated
themselves upon their sumptuous thrones； their glittering retinue
filled the beautiful boat； the scarlet oars dipped into the
water； and then； with music playing； banners streaming； and a
grand escort of boats of every conceivable shape； flashing in
decoration and gorgeous in mingled colors； the bridal train
floated down the Grand Canal； on past the outlying islands； and
between the great fortresses to where； upon the broad Adriatic；
the galleys were waiting to take the new Queen to her island
kingdom off the shores of Greece。 And there； in his queer old
town of Famagusta； built with a curious commingling of Saracen；
Grecian； and Norman ideas； King Giacomo met his bride。
So they were married； and for five happy years all went well with
the young King and Queen。 Then came troubles。 King Giacomo died
suddenly from a cold caught while hunting； so it was said； though
some averred that he had been poisoned； either by his half…sister
Carlotta； with whom he had contended for his throne； or by some
mercenary of Venice； who desired his realm for that voracious
Republic。
But if this latter was the case； the voracious Republic of Venice
was not to find an easy prey。 The young Queen Catarina proclaimed
her baby boy King of Cyprus； and defied the Great Republic。
Venice； surprised at this rebellion of its adopted 〃daughter；〃
dispatched embassy after embassy to demand submission。 But the
young mother was brave and stood boldly up for the rights of her
son。
But he； too； died。 Then Catarina； true to the memory of her
husband and her boy； strove to retain the throne intact。 For
years she ruled as Queen of Cyprus； despite the threatenings of
her home Republic and the conspiracies of her enemies。 Her one
answer to the demands of Venice was：
〃Tell the Republic I have determined never to remarry。 When I am
dead； the throne of Cyprus shall go to the State； my heir。 But
until that day I am Queen of Cyprus！〃
Then her brother Giorgio； the same who in earlier days had looked
down with her from the Cornaro Palace upon the outcast Prince of
Cyprus； came to her as ambassador of the Republic。 His entreaties
and his assurance that； unless she complied with the senate's
demand； the protection of Venice would be withdrawn； and the
island kingdom left a prey to Saracen pirates and African
robbers； at last carried the day。 Worn out with long contending；
fearful； not for herself but for her subjects of Cyprus；she
yielded to the demands of the senate； and abdicated in favor of
the Republic。
Then she returned to Venice。 The same wealth of display and
ceremonial that had attended her departure welcomed the return of
this obedient daughter of the Republic； now no longer a
light…hearted young girl； but a dethroned queen； a widowed and
childless woman。
She was allowed to retain her royal title of Queen of Cypus； and
a noble domain was given her for a home in the town of Asola； up
among the northern mountains。 Here； in a massive castle； she held
her court。 It was a bright and happy company； the home of poetry
and music； the arts； and all the culture and refinement of that
age； when learning belonged to the few and the people were sunk
in densest ignorance。
Here Titian； the great artist； painted the portrait of the exiled
queen that has come down to us。 Here she lived for years； sad in
her memories of the past； but happy in her helpfulness of others
until； on her way to visit her brother Giorgio in Venice； she was
stricken with a sudden fever； and died in the palace in which she
had played as a child。
With pomp and display； as was the wont of the Great Republic；
with a city hung with emblems of mourning； and with the solemn
strains of dirge and mass filling the air； out from the great
hall of the Palazzo Cornaro； on； across the heavily draped bridge
that spanned the Grand Canal from the water…gate of the palace；
along the broad piazza crowded with a silent throng； and into the
Church of the Holy Apostles； the funeral procession slowly
passed。 The service closed； and in the great Cornaro tomb in the
family chapel； at last was laid to rest the body of one who had
enjoyed much but suffered morethe sorrowful Queen of Cyprus；
the once bright and beautiful Daughter of the Republic。〃
Venice to…day is mouldy and wasting。 The palace in which Catarina
Cornaro spent her girlhood is now a pawnbroker's shop。 The last
living representative of the haughty house of LusignanKings； in
their day； of Cyprus； of Jerusalem； and of Armeniais said to be
a waiter in a French cafe。 So royalty withers and power fades。
There is no title to nobility save character； and no family pride
so unfading as a spotless name。 But； though palace and family
have both decayed； the beautiful girl who was once the glory of
Venice and whom great artists loved to paint； sends us across the
ages； in a flash of regal splendor； a lesson of loyalty and
helpfulness。 This； indeed； will outlive all their queenly titles；
and shows her to us as the bright…hearted girl who； in spite of
sorrow； of trouble； and of loss； developed into the strong and
self…reliant woman。
THERESA OF AVILA：
THE GIRL OF THE SPANISH SIERRAS。
＇Afterward known as St。 Theresa of Avila。＇ A。D。 1525。
It is a stern and gray old city that the sun looks down upon；
when once he does show his jolly face above the saw…like ridges
of the grim Guadarrama Mountains in Central Spain； a stern and
gray old city as well it may be； for it is one of the very old
towns of Western EuropeAvila； said by some to have been built
by Albula； the mother of Hercules nearly four thousand years ago。
Whether or not it was the place in which that baby gymnast
strangled the serpents who sought to kill him in his cradle； it
is indeed ancient enough to suit any boy or girl who likes to dig
among the relics of the past。 For more than eight centuries the
same granite walls that now surround it have lifted their gray
ramparts out of the vast and granite…covered plains that make the
country so wild and lonesome； while its eighty…six towers and
gateways； still unbroken and complete； tell of its strength and
importance in those far…off days； when the Cross was battling
with the Crescent； and Christian Spain； step by step； was forcing
Mohammedan Spain back to the blue Mediterranean and the arid
wastes of Africa； from which； centuries before； the followers of
the Arabian Prophet had come。
At the time of our story； in the year 1525； this forcing process
was about over。 Under the relentless measures of Ferdinand and
Isabella； with whose story all Americ