Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-07-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
From " A Year in SPAIN" by Lieut.. slidon.
A SPANISH Bull FIGHT.


The bulhght is the great national amusement OF
Spain: an amusement which, though it may be
stigmatized as cruel and brutaizing, is neverthe-
less unequued in deep and anxious interest AS
for the drama it owes every thing to deception, and
it is only when most cheated that we are most a.
unused.
II has furnished matter of much learned Discus
sion. whether the Spaniards derive their bullfghts
from the Romans or the Moors. 1t Is, however,
pretty well established that the Taurllia OF the
Romans were similar to those of modern times
1t is equally certain that the bullhght held an I'M
portant rank in the chvalrous sports OF the Arab
an Spaniards Having adopted this custom of the
conquered country, they carried it to great perec-
ton for with them it furnished means Of finding
favor with the fair who attended the spectacle and
was besides, miniature of those scenes OF strife
and warfare in which they were constantly enga-
ged. They, doubtless, introduced the mode OF
fighting the bull on horseback and with the lance
for they were nation of cavaliers, who did every
thing in the saddle, and even conquered Spain at
gallon Thus improved, the bulltight, with many
other usapes was transmitted by the Moors to their
Christian conquerers, who also inherited many
beautiful ballads on the subject. These are still
preserved in the Castilian and form part of the
spoil which the eXies left behind them wheh they
returned to Africa.
The bullfight has been several times abolished
in Spain: once in 1867, by an edict of Pope Plus
". which was revoked in 1876 by Clement VIII.
In the present century 1t was again abollshed by
Godoy: but is now re-established, and Will doubt
less long continue to form the tavorlte amusement
of the Spanish people, 1t is true that 1t is no long
err the splendid spectacle which it once was; we
look in vain for the gded balconies, thronged with
the wealthy and the beautiful, and for that sou-in-
spired enthusiasm which has died with the days OF
chivalry. But though princes and mobiles no longer
descend into the arena, their places are hed with
equal courage and perhaps, greater skill, by butch
A 1,lu vbn hppnTnp tOrprOS profess
sion The toreros of modern times no longer con-
tend from thirst after honorable distinction, or a
desire to win the approving smile OF beauty put
for money, to be spent IN taverns where such as
escape the dangers Of the arena usually END thelr
lives in braws by the knives of their companions
At Madrid the bullfght now takes place IN an
edifce called the Plaza de Toros, which stands up
on an eminence without the gate of Alcala. The
Plaza is of circular form, and not eptlcal, ike
the Roman amptheatres. 1t differs from them, too
in being Of frail and palry construction, and in be-
inc partially covered with root, while the amphi-
theatres consisted usually Of huge masses OF UNI
cemented granite, with no other shelter than can
vass awning which protected the audience, but let
the arena uncovered. The extreme diameter o
the Plaza is three hundred and thirty feet; OF The
arena two hundred and twenty. 1t is capable o
containing eleven thousand spectators. The eXte
rior wall IS Of brick, but the barriers, benches an
pillars which sustain the two covered gallerle
IL
is divided into commolious boxes, of which the on
which looks to the north and is never shone ON b
the sun, is decorated with the royal arms, and sc
apart for the king. Beneath the first gallery Is an
other similar to it, except that Is not divided INT
boxes but is left open the whole way round lowe
still is a succession Of uncovered benches sopln
down towards the lobby which encoses the aren't
These benches mike the complete circuit OF tn
edfce, and give good idea Of the Roman amph
theatre.
The portion of the Plaza allotted to The bull
horses and toreros, is of very simple construction
the arena is enclosed by barrier six feet hg
surrounded by circular lobby, into which III
combatants escape when too hoty pursued Ih
lobby is pierced by four sets Of foldingdoors, con
lnunicatng with the arena and the different apar
ments beneath the amphitheatre. One of these
the torl, where the bulls enclosed preparation
to the combat. A second door in front of the tor
gives admittance to the alguazls, who act as ma
shals third, to the horses and picadores; Will
through fourth are dragged away the carcassC
of the victims
In summer the bull-feast usually takes place
the mornnlg of a weekday, which is spent by tn
laboring classes in ideness and debauchery;
winter, on Sunday afternoon. The winter feas
are called " Corridas de Novillos," because onl
young bulls are then brought forward. The styl
of the handful issued on these occasions is singl
larly indicative of that propensity to be pompoI
and bombastic, which the Spanards ridicule in tn
Portuguese and for which they themselves are
qually remarkable 1t begins thus; "The kin
our master, whom may God preserve, has bee