The herald., 1895-10-27

separate treasury. 1t was only when
Siena was threatened by an outside foe
that the comrades combined to CONQUER
the enemy. When not fighting with out
siders, they, like many families, fought
among themselves. and the rivalry to
surpass each other in all things was
most herce. This rivalry has been handed
down from one generation to the other
and is as intense today as ever. In its
most prosperous times the city had fifty-
nine comrades but today there are but
seventeen.
AS the most peaceful way of settling
the veXed question of the superiority Of
one contrade over all tho others, some
master mind nine or ten centuries ago
MT upon horse race; each contarde to
enter horse and trust the rest to Dame
fortune, for there n1ver was a bigger
gamble than horse race in Siena. The
veriest plug that ever lived would stand
good chance against a Salvador and,
in fact would stand a better chance, for
rounding the sharp and narrow corners
would probably carry him into the mat
tresses banked up on the houses
owing to the extreme danger of the
track only ten horses have been allowed
to run during the past few years. There
are preliminary competitions and the best
ten horses and riders out of the seventeen
are selected for the great event. The
contarde left out in the cold shouts and
enthuses fer les nearest neig h Dor with an
entry, and gets almost as much excite
ment out OF the race as if it had horse
of its own.
The only prizs IS the PABLO, a white
satin banner with golden tassels and
cords, bearing pictures of the Holy Vir-
gin and the arms of the city and tho date
of the victory.
When the ten horses have been selected
which is done about five days before the
race, the intervening time is occupied in
training the horses and riders to make
the circuit Of the dangerous track at top
speed. The horse that can hug the rail
the best and swerve the least in making
the turns usually has the best chance.
But that makes little difference in the
wagers. Each contrade stands loyalty by
its horse. no matter how certain loser
he may be.
When the morning of the day of the
race comes around each horse is taken to
the church of contrade it represents and
blessed. Each coDtrade has tribune, Or
stand, erected at tho course and from
there watch the race. They march to the
stand III separate professions, and head
ing each contrade is a group of eorgeously
attired banner bearers clad in the COS
tunes of the middle ages. They bear
IN triumph the banners won In previous
struggles, and the flags of all the cities
ana towns Wn1cn were once subject to
the republic of Siena.
Following the banner bearer comes the
horse which will race. He is led by his
rider and attnded by twelve assistants.
All OF them are gaily dressed and the
horse is almost smothered in cloud of
richly Elm brodered harness, saddle cloths
and other paraphernala. All the time
the rank and sle of the contrade are
cheering for its horse and the rival cries
make a fearful uproar. The banner bear
ers as they near the scene of the race be-
gin peculiar dance. waving the banners
and brighten the excitable horses until
they dance about in a wild frenzy.
All the superfuous harness is then re-
moved from the horses and soon they are
ready for the race. Each rider is handed
a long whip, whic-, rather strangely, IS
not to be used on his own horse, but for
a more effective service, that OF beating
back the rival horses by switching them
across the face during the race. This
would make an American race Soer start
A riot, but the Italians regard it as part |
Of a Jockeys education, and the man who |
is expert in the work of touling another |
morse IS esteemed fine rider
A pistol shot starts the horses on the |
race. The jockeys shout like Gends, the |
horses wabble all over the little track, |
the multitudes go mad, the riders com
nit hundred fouls, and in a short time |
the race is over. The man on the win
ming horse never stops urging his mount
until he is safe in front of the oontrade
he represents, and he implores his peo-
Pile to protect him against the vengeance
Of the beaten ones. The women and men
kiss the horse and the ockey, and sur
ronding the latter carry him on their
shoulders to the judges where they see
that he is awarded the much coveted
banner.
The festival continues for two days, the
people of the victorious contrade spend
ing much money in entertaining their |
l efeated friends.