North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-03-29
From all The Year Round
BULL FIGHT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

looked up at the endless tiers of specta-
tors, the ladies, with their flashing eyes and
waving fans, some in the old Spanish dress,
but most in Partisan inery, at the dandies OF
Malaga the crowds o: shopkcepers and ar
tisans; whole families together, from the de-
lighted old grandfather to tho children in
arms, that was being taught to clap its little
hands and crow at the sight of bloodshed /;
at the mutitudes of peasants in holiday at
tire such as their ancestors wore in the days
ofFerdinand and Isabella. gave glance to
the place where the captain general in his
rich uniform blazing with decorations, sat
amid a brilliant group of officers and ladies',
whose diamonds and courtly splendor seemed
oddly placed in such a scene. And then
looked down at the ring
And yet the sport had been merely of an
Introductory character. Three or four young
bulls had been worried by tridents and flags
"A craven " as those pacific animals are call
ed whose temper is known to be meek, had
been tornented with squibs, barbed darts,
and the incessant braudishing OF red scarfs
before his eyes, and had finally been dis
patched'b by Choco, who did what may be
called the comic business Of the theatre
And now fine bull, with wide spreading
horns, was in possession of the ring. This
animal, however, disappointed the amateurs
OF the arena by showing more desire to es-
cape thaRferoclty. He ran round and round
seeking aBoutlet and believing piteously, as
the active toreadors on foot, with banners
and scarfs, ran nimbly around taunting and
teasing him until his hide was like pincush,
ion stuck full Of tiny barbed darts, adol ned
with coorcd paper. Of this, too, the people
grew weary, and general shout arose.
''Toros! toros the Mur;can bull at once
No, the Portuguese Let the English matador
show US what he is made of Toros !"
The manager looked up appealingIy to the
Captain General, and, receiving an august
nod of permission, hustled out. Very soon
there was flourish of trumpets, and then,
amid clapping of hands and huzzaing of
countless voices, the brinded Murican bull
came at heavy canter into the ring, stopped
short, lifted his head, and gave loud roar of
impatient anger. A noble beast he was, and
the populace enthusiastically shouted for th
their comments on his tossing main, his deep
chest, his dauntless lock, the strength of his
limbs, and the sharpness of his horns. Then
to the sound of martial music, IN poured the
mounted picadors, two and two, futtering
with bright ribbons, and dressed in the old
Castlian garb They lowered their lances
before the Captain General and rode three
times around the area to exhibit their bright
scarfs and rich jackets, while the cymbals
clashed and the drums rolled out their loud
est notes. The bull paved the ground. dis
tended his nostrlls, and, with short below
ing cry, stopped his head and began the at
tack. The words Bravo, toro !" rent the
very sky.
1t was butcherly business at best, though
I admit that the rich dresses, the long lances,
and waving of scarf and ribbon, plume, gave
false glitter and galantry to what was real
ly very dastardly and disgusting scene
The picadors, padded as they were, and fur
nished with immense boots through which
the bulbs horns could not pierce, while score,
of watchful attendants stood ready to dis
tract the animals attention in case of need
or to carry off a PROSTATE combataut. were
safe enough. But the bull itself, bleeding
from the repeated lance tbrusts, did execu-
tion among the horses, plunging his sharl
horns into their quivering tanks again ant
again, and iuficting ghsstly wounds, whil'