The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1893-11-09
RACE HORSES BLESSED.
Strange Ceremony Preceding the .nn,,

Twice each summer, in july and
August, the horse race, or ''palio,"
and medieval procession take place
In the piazza at Sienna. The s'pa-
Ito" $50 called from the banner given
as prize, which has been run an
nually since 1650-with very few
moditicatiens-is really contest be-
tween the different districts of the
town. These districts are called
"contrade," and each of these at the
race is represented by nine or ten
men an medieval costume and a
horse
Each horse entered for the race
must tlrst receive a benediction at
the parish church of its contrada a
lew hours before it runs. The
church doors are thrown open that
all who wish to see the ceremony
may enter, and in the sacristy are
shown, hung on walls the ''pali:"
won by the contrada at former
races, some of them a couple of CEN
turtles old.
The priest stands waiting at the
altar. All eyes are turned to the
door for the entrance of the horse.
Possibly he deems it "an honor to
Which he was not born" for it is
only after much Gathering of hoofs
and plunglng that he can be coaxed
to enter and is led up to the high al
tar. Thus he stands surrounded by
the company Of the contrada in full
costume, the jockey, helmet on head,
the captain in full armor, standard
bearer, drummer and pages. 1t is
the most curious sight one can i'm
agine in church, the horses stand
ing meelzly before the altar and
those brilliant costumes grouped
round.
There is a moments hush; then
the priest steps forward and sprin-
kles the horse with holy water, reads
few words of blessing in Latin and
sprinkles him again. The spectators
give a lusty shout, and the horse is
led triumphantly out.
BY half past 6 p. m. the piazza is
crammed with people of all sorts and
conditions, and the balconies and win
dows of the houses, decorated with
brilliant draperies, are crowded. At
the third gun fire the course is
cleared by mounted carabineers, and
the procession enters the piazza.
First comes the town band in plain
modern dark blue uniforms, cooked
hats, with white plumes, playing as
1T marches; a pause, and then some
eight or nine heralds trumpeting
gallantly-they are in costume, as is
all the procession. Then pass the
'contrade" one by one, each in a
different costume of the middle
ages. Each one has its emblem
such as dragon, snail, goose, wood,
wolf, owl, etc.-represented oMtheir
costumes, flags, armor and horse
trappings. The jockeys, in costume
and wearing the helmet, ride. The
captains and their companies 90 on
foot.
The horses are ridden without sad
die or stirrups, and as they file out
from under the archway of the pa
lazzo an official gives each Jockey
his nerbo. This is whip made of
OK sinew, and it is permissible dur
ing the race for rider to strike his
rival jockeys and horses with this
formidable weapon-a remnant of
middle age brutality. Woe to the
man who gets struck across the face
with it. The jockey hats, now worn
in place of the helmets, are of metal,
painted, to guard the head against
the blows. The horses are at the start
ing point, the signal is given, and
they are of-a good start. Selva, or
Wood, is the favorite and leads from
the first. Wei he will never keep
up the pace, but he does, and in the
second round he is still ahead. The
other nine horses are well together,
the jockeys belaboring right and left
with their nerbi The people are ex-
cited to the highest pitch. The noise
is deafening, for these peasants have
sturdy voices Even the strangers,
who have come to see the spectacle
and care not one jot which contrada
wins, are constrained out of sympa-
thy to shout too In the third round
Selva has more than held his own
and comes fully two lengths ahead
amid enthusiastic applause.
Instantly after the race the win
ming jockey is surrounded by police
men, who protect him till his COM
pany has time to rally round him,
and there is good need of it, for the
partisans of the beaten contrade are
hot blooded and violent in their dis
appointment and would scarcely let
their victorious rival escape sound Of
limb if they had chance to get at
him.-London Illustrated News.
Conditions Were Changed.
An amusing incident is told at the