The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-13

Of those of other great cemeteries cheapness is
combined With the beauty OF Its scenery and the
convenience OF itR location, TO render 1t one of
the most desirable institutions o the kind now
in successful operation.
ANNIvERsARY OF THE STANFORD (ENG-
LAND) BULL-RvENIN0 go How THE Fun WAS
SPOILED BY THE SOCIETY FOR THR PREVENTION
OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. One of the ancient
tra0itionaIy customs OF the town OF Stamford
in Lincolnshire, England. was ceremony
termed Bullrunning, which fell on the 18th OF
November.
The custom Is said to have dated from the
daYf OF King John. One day, as William, Earl
OF Warren, was standing on the battlements OF
his castle, he witnessed nPht between two
bulls in the meadow. Some butchers attempted
to part the cumbatants, when one OF the bulls
created furious uproar by rushing headlong
through the town. The cbivalric Earl thereupon
mounted bis horse and pursued the furious
animal in high glec. So delighted with the sport
was this valiant gentleman, that he bequeathed
the meadow N which the combat began to the
guild OF butchers, on the condition that they
should enable the townspeople to enjoy like
sport once year, by providing bull for the
purpose.
In the seventeenth century the sport was con-
Quoted in this iashion:-A bull was furnished
by the butchers and placed in the stable of the
Alderman over night. On the morning of the
18th the bell-man OF the town perambulated the
streets, commanding every one to close his
shop-dOor and gate, and threatening with inn
prisonment all who we're guilty of doing vIO-
lence to strangers. As an additional precaution
in this respect, guard was appointed TO con
duct tray ellers through the town without harm.
Those who intended to pursue the bull were
likewise cautioned against placing any iron
upon their clubs or slaves. The proclamation
being ended, the bull was turned loose at the
Alderman's house; and then, according to the
local historian, the following spectacle was pre-
sented:-
'Hivle-skivy. tag-rag, men, women, and
children OF all sorts and sizes, with all the dogs
-
each others faces, that one would think them
to be so many fu1les started out of the internal
REGIONS for the punishment OF Cerberus, as
when Theseus and Perillus conquered the
place, as Ovid describes i:-
"'A ragged troop OF boys and girls
Do Iollow HIM with stones
They part his skin from bones.'"
In later days the sport was somewhat modi-
fed. The bull, having been turned into street
which was barrlcaded at either end with cars
and wagons, was irrltated by throwing hats at
him. The barTicades were then removed, and
then the whole crowd-bull, men, boys and
dogs-rushed pell-mell through the streets. The
great object was to ''bridee the bulln by forcing
hum on the structure which spaDned the Wei
land, and then he was roughly seized by as
many as dared approach, aud hurled bodily INTO
the stream. The animal would then swim to
the shore when the race would be continued
through the "Bull-meadow," many ludicrous
mishars happenma to the pursuers from the
miry state OF the soil at that season of the year.
When all were tired the bull was killed ana the
day wound up wit1 general supper on bull
beet.
This ridiculous custom was long continued
and greatly encouraged by the authorities.
Even candidates for Parliament were accue-
toned to propitiate their constituents by fur
nishing bulls for extra entertainments OF this
kind. The Conservatives, in canvassilg the
borough in 1881, ca1Iied a banner bearing a
representation of a rampant bull.
in 1888. however, the "Soclety for the Pre-
Vention OF Cruelty to Animals" interfered. but
at that time without success. In 1886 they
OF all who participated in the pastime. The
sport was still. kept up, leading TO collision
between the military and the bnll-mad popu-
hand and the bun being young and docile, he
was taken captive. The was the end of 1t, as
the good people that year found they had TO
loot q bill OF f6O0 for the expenses OF the mill
tary and extra police.