Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-02
FROM THE NATIONAL GAZETTE
BSEE E1CsEE1tS TN SPAIN.

FROM ~ Year az SDatl," jJ "a li,uag amey-;can.
The bull fight has been several times
abolished In Spain; once in 1867, by an edict
CT Pope Plus v, which was revoked in 1876.
by Clement VIII. In the present century il
was again abolished by Godoy; but is nov
re-establsiied, and will doubtless long con-
;inue TO form the favorite amusement Of the
Spanish people. II is true that they are no
longer the splendid spectacles which they
once were: We look In vain for gilded
balconies, thronged with the wealthy and the
beautiful, and for that soul-inspirinr entb,I.
s!asm which has died with ,hs DAYS of chi.
valry. But though princes and mobiles no
longer descend into the arena, their places
are filled with equal Courage, and perhaps.
greater skill, by butchers from AnGaiusie.
who become tOreroS by profession. The TO-
|eroS OF modern times no longer contend from
thirst after honorable distinction, or a de-
SIRE to win the approving smile of beauty;
Dpt ONLY Tor money, to be spent In brothels
and !G5ertaS, where such Us escape the din
gers OF the arena, UcualIy end their lives tv
the knives Of each other.
~ Madrid the bull Fight now takes placs
in an cdiicc, called the Plaza-de-To,os.
wi:c'. stands upon an cminence without tho
gate OF A'cala. The Plaza is Of an eIlipti-
cal form, and not circular, like the Roman
amphitheatres 1t differs from them. too. in
being OF frau and paltry construction, and in
beng partially covered with n roof whilst
the amphithcdtre consisted usually of huqc
masses oil uHccmented granite, with no 9th
or shelter than canvas awning, which pro-
tected the audience, but left the arena un-
covered. The extreme diameter Of the Pla-
"a Is $50 feet; the diameter Of the arena is
go. Ii is capable of containing | ! 600 spec
IN hs.s fr,w.~ IL. 4
barriers, benches, and pillars, which sustain
the two covered galleries anl the roof, arc
all wood. The upper gallery is divided into
commodious boxes, of which the one which
looks to the north, and which is never shone
on by the sun, is decorated with the royal
arms, and SET apart for the king. Beneath
the first gallery is another similar to il. ex-
cept that 1t IS not divided iuto boxes, but is
lett open the whole wny round. beneath
the last gallery there is a succession OF IN.
covered benches, sloping down towards tho
lobby which encloSes the arena. Those
benches make the complete circuit of the
cdliice, anu give a good miniature of the
Roman amphitheatrc.
The portion Of the Plaza allotted To the
bulls, horses, and toreros, is of very simple
construction. The aroma is enclosed bv n
barrier SIN feet high, without which there is a
circular lobby, into which the combatants
escape when too warmly pursued. This
lobby is pierced by four sets Of folding doors
communicating with the arena, and which,
when thrown open, form as many passages
leading to the different apartments beneath
tho amphItheatre. One ofthese is the torI.
Into this the bull Is either driven by force, or
else cnticed by likely heifer, introduced
before him through a prison, the iron doors
ei which Immediately close upon him, whilst
the involuntary coquette passes on, to aid in
entrapping others. A second door in front
OF tho tori, gives adfnittance 20 the GlguzoiIs
who act as marshals; a third to the horses
! and p'cGdorc@; whilst through a fourth are
dragged away the carcasscs Of the victims.
In summer the bull feast usually takes
! place n the morning Of week day, which