VENICE–DON’T FEED THE PIGEONS.

VENICE—DON’T FEED THE PIGEONS. Judith Martin (Miss Manners) had an article in the weekend Financial Times about the ban that Venice has now imposed on feeding pigeons in Saint Mark’s Square. Apparently feeding pigeons anywhere else in the city has been illegal for ten years. Even throwing rice at a wedding has been banned. At one time the city encouraged their presence, providing free food for pigeons for many years. After World War II, Venice gave war orphans hereditary licenses to sell corn in the Square.
Our children came to know one of the ladies who sold corn and spent many happy hours in the Square feeding the pigeons.