Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-10

out, in their holiday attire, and the Paseo pre-
sents greater throng of brilliant equipages
than on any other day in the week. The thea
tres and other places of amusement are open,
including the cock pit and bull-ring this being
the day particularly devoted to these elevating
pastimes
We did not go to the bull-fght; being assu-
red that we should be disgusted at the sight of
the inluriated animals, maddened with pain.
tortured to death by the spears of the matadores,
and of noble horses dragging their entrails in
the dust, after being wounded by the horns of
the bulls. A friend who went, informed us that
six horses were disembowelled and seven bulls
were murdered on this day; and that the death
OF horse and the tumbing of his rider in the
dust was always received with the greatest ac-
clamation by the throng of spectators, a large
proportion of whom were ladies One bull,
valiant fellow, became great favorite when he
had slain his third horse and when, all bleed
ing with wounds, he was driven fourth time to
the attack, and his life blood spouted in the RI
der's face as the sharp spear reached his heart,
his death was received with IL groan instead Of a
shout. The bulls were not all alike valiant, but
many of them had to be goaded from behind to
make them attack the matadores and were ig-
unanimously slain at the first onset, or were
driven with Kisses from the ring.
What a sad-what fearful commentary is
this upon the depraveableness of human nature!
What proclivity downwards is there in its
growth, when the channels of its strength are
turned in the wrong direction Man, to whose
fatherly care was given the dominion of the
beast of the field that he might protect, foster
and use without abusing them, is almost the
only creature that takes pleasure in the pain Of
Others that seeks amusement in willfully tor
menting those other species whom he finds in
his power. Other animals wage war on their
natural enemies, either for their own defence or
to satisfy their hunger, while man alone is found
to relish the tortures of his writhing victims
and to slaughter for the pleasure it gives him.
Could such state of things as we see here exist
in this enlightened day, were it not for the be-
nighting influences of slavery and despotism
We trow not. Had Cuba been allowed irec
scope for the development of her energies in the
right direction without these draw-b backs upon
her advancement, we should not now have to
blush to see woman-whose holy mission should
be the training of her tender offspring to the
deeds of love and mercy--sitting high over the
CHASTITY arena, and joining her gentle voice In
the acclamations for blood. And before we are
too lavish of our execration Of our neighbours
sins, let us consider whether our skirts are clear
ofall responsibility in the matter; have we been
careful to set them an example Of republicanism
worthy of their imitation Had Slavery no
footing in our broad domain, it could not exist
in Cuba long ago would she have caught the
infection of freedom; and, in the broad day
light of universal intelligence that would inev-
itably follow, only the memory of such things as
cock pits and bull-fghts would be left to wonder