Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-01-10
"GATTA CIECA"
Bxci.ins Game of "Blind Cat" and How IL IL
Played.


suppose by this time the Lancas-
ter foot races have had their day,
and that the people are ready for an
other turn at amuscment-I hope
more innocent and less demoralizing,
yet more exciting, and combining
the ludicrous with other essentials of
fun.
Not long since, being at Lisbon, |
saw some Italians playing at their
national games and one of these so
excited my attention that | resolved
to send it home for our young folks.
The players were assembled, with
great many of the old and young
aristocracy of Lisbon for spectators,
in the Black Horse Square, a place
very noted indeed for its historic in
terests, its fine monuments, bronze
and marble statues and palisades
with tall futed columns. The square
is named from the very old statue of
one Of the early Christian conquerors
of Portugal, when the country was
captured from ths. Moors, and which
statue represenlSsa monster Tor
seated upon large horse-the work
in black marble, and occupying the
center.
The game is called in Italian SCAT
ia cieca"-which in English is "blind
cat, " and is played thus The eyes
of one, two or three Of the players
are bandaged, wLo, after being seiz-
ed and whirled round two or three
times, aim to go thus blindfolded to
an appointed object at distance of
twenty PAGES or more, on which
prize is placed, and touch it with a
stick which he is allowed to carry to
enabling him to travel about and
avoid obstacles. The three whirls
are sure to confuse the minds of the
blindfolded persons as to the direc-
ton of the object and prize, and they
make the most amusing plumbers as
they go about in false directions.
At times they exhibit the utmost con-
fidence in being in the right direction
when going the opposite, and timid-
ity Of purpose when going toward
the prize. The money to constitute
the prize is levied upon the specta-
tors who contribute literally in view
Of the sport.
In the game | saw, the three blind
folded were allowed to face the prize
when being bandaged, and were then
whirled FoGnd three times, and then
off they started, each different d.
rection. The prize was suspended
upon o small marble shaft or obelisk,
and consisted of small wallet filled |
with coins. The party were at once
noticed to be in doubts as to their
course and changed about with con-
slant hesitations, amid the .jeers and |
loud laughter of spectators. Loud
challenges and bets were screamed |
out, some in earnest, some for decep- |
ton. The blinded players were ex-
cited by the betting, but not know
ING who were their friends, nor sure
at all whether the prompters were
trying to put them on the right d.
rection or the wrong, all continued
to exhibit the same vacillation in
steering about "There, now, | bet
three to one on the red coat" Gall
the bindfolded wearing coats differ
ing in COLOR 1.-TWO to one on the
blue" rings out another at some dis
lance. "There, the green wins-who
takes, ten to one" Meanwhile all
the players are as wide of the mark
as when at first setting out. The
red all at once steers direct for the
prize, when some one sings out,
fT wenty to one on the red-who
who takes" when another sings out
in undertone as pretended friend,
"Steer to the right"-when the red
coat obeys and again misses by a
rod. He now loses his head entirely
when one at his side whispers q
word, and doubling again he sets off
wider than ever. The blue coat man
is tickled under the chin by q spec
tator, at which he strikes right and
left with his stick, and again loses
his direction. Meanwhile green coat
marches straight up to one of the
fountains and tumbles heels over
head into the stone water basin.
There are all sorts of frauds and
cheating which the players endure,
for the prize is worth taking. The
fun is all good natured, and at last
the man wearing the green coat won
by stubbornly disregarding oil the
false cries, whereupon he was cheer
ed and next a crown of flowers was
brought and placed upon his head,
and then green coat was hoisted up
on the shoulders of stout fellow
who got a bottle Of wine for his task.
The play may have lasted two hours,
and afforded | think more amusement
than any race or other test l ever
witnessed. These people are easily
and cheaply amused, but think this
game would equally please the folks
in Wisconsin. This with other plays
practiced IN this country, where so
many ancient Roman customs have
been handed down through the Latin
races, is said to have been practiced
two thousand years ago, according to
historians.
! see New England and other
parts of the Western world were
lately visited by an earthquake, al
most destructive to property in some
places This suggests that the Her
aid readers might like to read an ac-
count of the great earthquake which
once visited by Lisbon above a hun
dred years ago, the terrible effects of