Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1904-11-12

Petrarch's famous triumpha1 entry
into Arezzo in the height of his fame.
The little town was absolutely mad
with delight. When a train rolled into
the station of Arezzo a genial and
progressive member Of the town COM
mittee would rush up to each stranger
whom he suspected of coming for the
celebration.
"Petrarca?" he would ask, eagerly.
Yes, replied the tourist, hardly
knowing what to say.
But that was enough Arezzo was
delighted again. The committeeman
representing that commendablc pride
would take possession of the newcom-
er, rush him into a side room at the
station and there bear him down with
tickets, badges, pamphlets and what
not AreZZo had not been so much
alive since that day in 1850, when Pet
rarch, astride his white horse, visited
his birthplace. AS a matter of fact,
all Petrarch ever did for AreZZo was
to be born there, and pass through the
city forty-six years later. But could
a great man do anything more for
any city?
Arezzo was cleaned in honor of the
event it celebrated, and from gala
posts erected in the city banners of
red and yellow fluttered in the occa-
siona1 breeze. From every house
pieces of red and yellow stuffs hung
from windows, and even garlands of
flowers festooned picturesque walls.
The part of the festival to which
all looked forward with the greatest
amount of interest was anything but
disappointing. This was the repre-
ptafi oF f1,o
propriate costuming, given in honor of
Petrarch when he arrived at his ma
= tive city in the year 1850, as he was
returning from the jubilee in Rome.
The magistrates went out to meet
him, and ordered that no alterations
should be made in the humble house
in which he was born. At that time
he was at the height of his fame; he
had received the laurel crown at
Rome, had written his great work
Africa which is no longer read,
and was on his way to Vaucluse.
Petrarch's original triumphal entry
into Arezzo was in December, but as
the sixth centenary of his birth was
being celebrated, it was thought ad-
visable and not anomalous to include
this feast for the eyes, and so not
only lend that color so dear to the
Tuscan, but that spectacular element
beloved by every human being.
The fiesta storica'' was given
toward evening. for the sun had been
extremely hot. Fifteen thousand per
sons had gathered to witness the cul-
minating point of the centenary cele-
bration on the great "prato,'' or field,
just at the edge or the town. They
had come from everywhere in the
surrounding country, for the Italians
not only know their great men of
antiquity, but are proud of them.
The spectators sat in rows on benches
which surrounded the prato, which
has always been used for games and
shows, and was more than likely the
scene of Petrarch's triumph nearly
six centuries ago.
In the center of the field stood q
huge wooden figure, representing the
head and body of a Saracen. This
turned on pivot, and was the object
of attack by the soldiers, who were
dressed as knights in armor They
rode through the entrance of the in
closure at full gallop, but waited to
begin their exhibition until all the me
diaeval figures had made circuit OF
the field, and had seated themselves
in their appointed places.
Then the leader rode to the center
whistle the knights, each with a wood
en- lance in hand, rode at the Sara
cen, their object being to strike the
figure and break their lances against
it. Some Of the horses objected Vic