The San Francisco call., 1907-03-10

oxen the people of Sons ftt trtin
OF telling this-ssors = raksts
unpopular land owner bad coma
from Rome to Siena 10 look over hie
possessions. He had brought with iin'
his wife and some OF her friends. The'
day after his arrival he decided that
he would prove to his factor that horses
are more servfcesble than oxen. GER
tain heavy piece OF machinery was 10
be moved from one farm 70 another.
The owner ordered that horses be
used, and accordingly six We're hsr-
messed 10 the machine. on q slight
grade the horses gave out A peasant
who happened 70 be passing offered the
use OF his oxen. The Roman laughed
at him and asked him what ne sup
posed a pair OF oxen could do where
six horses had failed The peasant in
sisted that they could move the load
The Roman. all the sngrfer since his
wife and her friends were present, said
he was willing 10 bet thousand francs
against the hog the peasant had in his
cart that the SIX horses were far more
powerful than the two oxen. The
peasant took him Up. attached the oxen
20 the machine and they, with little
effort. started up the hill.
Whether or not this little story Is
Trustworthy, the Sienese oxen are cer-
tsinly marvellous, and II is surprising
that they are not used on the harvest
ers IN the Middle West OF our own
country.
The people about Siena are very un-
willing 10 sell their oxen 70 strangers.
and e. the numerous fairs they are
careful to avoid any buyer who does
not live in the province.
The Great Fairs
Every FIRST Monday in the month
there Is an OK fair ct Sicns. but
the two most important fairs of the
year are in the middle Of August ana
the middle OF October.
The fairs are all held At the parade
ground. the Piazza dArfni. just out
side the city walls. Early IA the morn
ing OF fair days tho people about the
piazza begin to prepare for the crowd.
Every wine shop IN the neighboThood
makes ready for a busy day, and new
ones are opened on al sides.
Shooting al a target is faYorite
pastirne OF Italians. and no fair is com
plete without two or three galleries
Then. all along the Florence road
from the city gate TO the Piazza d ArTni.
the hucksters collect pushing tneir
carts up close 20 the sidewalks or
spreading their wares out on the
ground. They soil everything under
the sun. and 1t is here that the peas
ants make their purchases for the sue
ceeding month The jewel merchant
IS by far the most popular. Masses OF
brass and glittering glass lure the un-
lucky peasant from the path OF econ
cmy.
The fairs are intended primarily
for the peasants. but tho city people
usually come down TO enjoy the fun.
And from the city also comes the pump
kin-seed man. This fellow is welt
known in siena u the morning he
sells postcards in front Of the Town
Hall. In the afternoon he sells cara
rdels and "tollerf." honey-cske Pc
cIlliar 10 Siena. at the LIZA. the city
dark At night he sells olives and
pumpkin seeds IN the cafes. He boasts
that his ancestors have been selling
caramels and "tolleri" and olives and
pumpkin seeds ever since the days OF
the republic. He never fails to appear
at the Piazza d'Armi on market days.
accompanied by his son. who 'is learn
ing the trade.
Down the Florence road into the
Piazza d'Arini stride the minstrels. last
remnants of once p-oud brotherhood
But tho Sienese are loyal 10 the past
and a broker down fcantastorie" with
q wornout guitar is still welcome
sight 10 the peasants They maintain
that Il is impossible to work without
q good song. and they rely upon the
"cantsstorie" for new ones.
At the entrance 10 the Piazza . Armi
is certain space reserved for wine
casks. The peasant buys here in pref
erence 10 going into the city. Every
tssk bears stamp. placed there by
an oficial OF the commune, which
guarantees the capacity of the vessel.
The oxen occupy rne greater part
OF the piazza, but along the great
stone wall on one side are stationed
the asses. These are not larger than
dogs but their owners are willing
60 swear 70 a prospective purchaser
that they can haul more than an OK.
They are usually worked with horses
A team OF horses Is q rare sight IN
the Sienese country. Most OF the work
is done by oxen, but one often sees
horse and an ass harnessed together,
the ass marching ahead with traces
twice as long as those OF the horse.
Against the wall on the opposite side
OF the piazza are the hogs and sheep.
Between these and the asses. the piaz-
"a, ESQ yards IN width. is covered with
oxen. Every peasant IN the country
brings IN his pair OF oxen He usually
walks IN the center, leading the oxen,
q long stick in his hand. Arrived
at the plazzs he plants his stick IN the