Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-28


rial DispIay-The Triumph OF Sc
ence over Muscle. M t
Madrid Correspondence Chicago Tribune.l
: Bull fights in Spain and the whippin,
; posts in Mecklenburg have long bee
. pointed out as incontestable marks {
!. barbarism in these two countries. wen
out to the casa de toros of Alcala d
. Guadalaria, an hours ride from Seville
3 with all the prejudices natural to civi
lied Americans, but returned half In
clined to tolerate the nationak amuse
, ment, provided no horses were sacritice
with the bull to please the public. Re
move the poor blind-folded brutes tha
: the fierce bulls tear to pieces, and tn
bull fight of the Spanish metadoro woulC
become as noble as the contest of til,
backwoodsman with grizzly bear, whel
armed with nothing buta knife. For tn,
picadores, banderilleros, and the espada
carry the same weapons that were il
use before firearms were known--thC
sword and spear--and have no defensive
armor beside their own agility. Nowhere
is so thrillingly manifested the superior
ity of skill to force, of mind to instinct
as in the decried Spanish arena. These
exhibitions, must not be confounded with
the gladiatorial shows of imperial Rome,
where slaves and captives were forced to
combat with wild beasts, for Spanish gla-
diators belong to free class, and have
chosen the profession for which they are
trained. So astonishing is their adapt
ness that they are safe at few PAGES
distance from the fercest bull OF the
walled pastures of Cordova. After this
Introduction, while we are waiting for
the diligence, and standing before the
pictured post-bill that announces the in
auguration at the new amphitheater at
J the village named above capable of seat
ing comfortably 1000 spectators, and the
entry of two bulls to be killed, besides
six others that the amateurs of the audi
ence may dodge and weary, let us jump
into the coach already filing with
company we cannot spoil much either
Intellectually or morally One of the
best looking passengers is in company
with a woman of little or no virtue, and
the rest wear look of animal compac-
ency. But we'll find many of better
sort, venerable fathers and mothers, with
their families, among the spectators.
Along the'road an increasing number of
pleasure-seekersi is passed, trudging afoot
or riding horseback, a farmer and his
wife across the same animal, or driving
two-wheel mule cart. flifE vf 8s4ua
The Andalusian costumes are pictu-
rescue, with the silk mantillas of senoras
replacing bonnet and shawl, and the red
girdle, short, embroidered jacket, and big
velvet hat, with rim rolled up, of the
men. M r -
Alcala de Guadalaira is unusually astir
when we arrive. Every front door is
open and occupied; the streets are lined
with country wagons; the tavern swarms
with guests, among whom you may dis
tinguish the heroes of the day by the
queu they habitually wear. The usual
crowd of peddlers-crying crabs, aqua,
bread and nuts-children and hangers
on surround the new coliseum. Police
men keep order at the two entrances that
lead to the sunny and shady sides of the
circus respectively. Many who cannot
afford a seat in the shade of the walls
are willing to scorch three hours rather
than lose the favorite spectacle. The
interior is polygonal, and counts eleven
brick tiers of seats from the top of the
wall down to the round arena, that is
separated from them by considerable
space, into which the afcionados or am
ateurs descend to approach the ring as
nearly as possible. Into this space the
fighters spring, over the fye-foot post |
and-board fence of the inner circle, when I
hard-pressed by the bull Below the /
broad strips of the fence, painted the
color of bnlrs blood there is narrow |
step, short way from the ground, on
which they lodge their feet when vault
ing, Two entrances, opposite each other
are made for the bulls and their oppon-
ents, the horses and the men. The first
is the exit Of O darkened stal whore the
fierce beasts are kept, and whence they
rush into the arena, rendered doubly fu-
rious by the dazzling light and bursting
shouts that receive them. The other gate
is open, and you can see the preparations
of the fighters, and the gaily-harnessed
mules who are to draw out thecarcasses of
bulls and horses between the scenes. At
length il is halfpast four, the time APP
the people have become dis
and clameroaS. The music
sounds, and the alguazil, or clown, in
blue breeches and yellow coat, with !
shiny buttons, dashes his horses across
he arena to catch the keys of the toril ,
brown down from the judge stand, tied
With gay ribbons. Then the gladiators
march IN procession, TO salute the
iame honorable part of the house before
tationing themselves in the ring. /
mentioned their different names above.
The picadores are heavy horsemen; their
egs we'll protected by firmly lined leather .
,reeches aga;nst the horns of the bull i
heir short jackets, of gay color, half
Iidden beneath tasseis and embroidery s
f silver and gold, and armed with q long d
pear, terminating with q short steel
oint, destined to irritate the bull and O
top his plunge at the poor horse, but q
ot to seriously wound him. The band
riiiefas are light iootmeh, rather agile c,
nan Strong, ai;b no defense in their ol
lue and green tights thpt could not be a,
iereed by pin in an intaaIs hand,
no attract and dazzlo the bull with pur-
lie and scarlet mantles, which they un- 70
lrl in his face, and then they excite the g
east when weary by sticking pins light III
into bis shoulders. Lastly the espada
swordsman. whose gFess IS distinguish e
BY magnifcence from that o: the rosi, n
,eys the cries of the people and the OF
,gpd Of the cornet. and plants his Slight
gord "a the heart Of the noble animal, PI
hioh With its fuFy lcsas the power to II
ease the spectators. M n
Then you sec the ring and know the
tors. Watch the conflict. The plea he
,es have ridden up 10 either side of the wi