The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1854-10-28

|
than cock fgh, 1t IS no. confined, a,
might be supposed. to any particular elias.
OF persons. Between the genera,ssimo oil
The army aud the rawest recruit--the Pres
ident Of the Republic and the humbles,
hind-the archbishop of the church and
the meekes' member. there is no difference
In the amphithea,re. side by SIDE, stand the
prizes, aud the peasant. the hunter and the
herdsman, the shopnan aud the soldier.
In Juxtaposiion may be seen the old man,
whose dangling locks are white rs til. po,
lar SHOWS; the slender youth. whose limbs
are slowly rounding Into manhood, and
the tuant hoy. scarce old enough To lisp
his Spanish name. 1t is common to every
caste and condition ever, age aud va
cation. aud s,,u women are sometimes
the willing observants Of this bafbarous
sport
The excitement Of tie cock Oh, differs,
IA some respects, from all other kind. OF
strife. 10 the course, man carries his
preludlces aud his preferences. The name
ar reputation OF the horse the favor or
friendship Of the owner or, # u's, quaint
former, not uuir.queutly Influence his wa
gers. His feelings once enlisted. he aban,
dons himself to the hope Of success HIS
eyes follow lhe swift steed in his cifcuiious
course, rs long AS be leads the rxee, with
n manifest pleasure that is wholly iodiscri
battle; aud ii he falls behind, the gloom Of
disappointment slowly settles upon his
20.
press to smother the swelling rage wilma.
But, in either case, ne is seldom unpre,
pared tor the result. The strife is not the
work of moment There is always ans
pie time to note the movement of each
hose, to remark upon his speed and bot
tom, aud to calculate the chances OF n
prosperous termination.
AID 80 It is with the bull fight. An.
nouuc-d beforehand, and Tor many days
the common theme of conversation, the com,
muu'ty are filled with anticipation. Per>
hsps thousands have visited TIE combatauts,
aud carefully examined their respective
powers, noting the 4. the color, the horns,
the hpois, aud the s,t"glh Of the one. and
the eyes. the nose, the mouth. the height.
the Imh- aud the muscles oi tn. others !;
aud they cutter the arena. slIke familiar
with the qualities OF bull aud gladiators.
The former stand. in the mids, Of the
area. his head and tail elevated his nos,rlls
dst"nded. aud his slaring eyes Ike balls al
fire the b'ealhiug personifcalion OF AS
constituent Presently the batter eater
through wicket, amid the deiening shouts
ol the overlooking multitude, and approach
the excited hras, IN opposite directions
!ie looks at Gnc aud then Mt the other, and
waving of u red scsu determines him, aud
he darts towards his prcvok-r, with the
swiltness OF the wind. BY dex,erous
movement OF his person, under cover Of
the scarf, the gladiator escape. the onset.
aud plunges has knife deep Into the body
VI the angry beast, which with rage
greatly increased by the smar, of tho
wound. turns upon lis adversary, fierce
As ten iure."
But, Il perchance, the second attempt ia
mote successful, and the gladiator i. forced
Ia the earth, his cn,nfado Instantly flies to
his relief; ara though the horn Of the hail
ma, tn,ch the hr-as, Of the PROSTATE man,
the slightest noise usual, d'ver- his AT
ienticu Ant thus the stfIle continues. on
iii the cla,i'ntors, bruised and mangled.
Nv from the field, or the bull faint from the
ln.s Of blood, sinks down ig death at the
feet ct his couqusrors.
But very different is the excitement Of
tho cock>pi, whore all 10, the bet,or ~
well as the spectator, without prediction.
For. until their arrival, 1t Is unknown even
10 the cookers themselves, what birds will
be pitled From large number. always
exposed Tor sale on such occasions, the
principal bcitofs select, each. one, and
place them IN the hands OF the gamekrcp.
crs for preparation.
These birds. having been some time pre-.
vlous herei. OF the weapons nature design
ed for their defence, are now furnished with
gsiiles or artificial spurs, each OF which Is
is polished steel hlnts, shout three Inches
In length. hHIl MI inch wide at the base,
curved .lighil, upward. sharp Mt til" point
,ut on the upper edge. and iifmly fastened
To, leg h, mcaus Of clasp.
Thus arm. d aud ready to' the fight, they
age carried about the pit by the gsmskeep.
ers. who hold them nloli Tor the benefit oi
the spectators. 1t /, duliug tins exhibition
that the side bets are made, and the hgh,
Is $50, commenced until the confusion there's
upon eos. qucnt has eutirely subsidized
l. uen.tal. the corks SO far differ from
each Other ~ size ct body. color OF plus
mn.,s. or length If tail. ~ TO be easily dis