The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-09-28
evening state gullraal.
THURSDAY EVENING. SEPT. IS. 1871.
LIFE IN SPAIN.


ters published in his magazine, gives this
vivid description Of life in Spain:
We commenced at once upon the sights
of Madrid, visiting the armory first, where
we saw swords worn by Charles ", Don
John Of Austria, Pizarro, Philip H.,
Cortes the armor of Columbus, Philip H..
Charles "; the saddle Of the Gid, and other
articles of historical interest. We went
through the Royal Palace, through the
stables and coach-house, and the Naval
Museum, in which there are many memo
rails of Columbus. Our party called upon
General Scklcs, United States minister to
Spain. We had met him before at the
headquarters of General Grant in Washing
ton, and on the floor of the House of Re-
representatives.. He had grown stouter, and
the air of Madrid seemed to agree with him.
lie was very pleasant and agreeable, and is,
in fact, model minister.
The next day we went to the Royal Pic
tnre Gallery, which is one of the largest
and choicest in Europe. Besides the works
Of the Spanish artists, Murillo, Morales,
Velasquez, and others, there are many pic
lures of Raphael, Titan, Paul yeronese,
Guido Reni, Tintoretto, Domenichino,
Claude Lorraine, and all of the old Dutch
painters. After lunch, we called for car
riage, and barouche, with driver and foot
man in stylish livery, astonished our repub-
llcan eyes; but as the charge was only
three dollars for the afternoon, we sub
mitted to the show. We drove out of the
city, crossing the Manzanares, on the bed
of which multitude of gypsies were en-
camped, for there was not water enough in
it to get up decent fog. In half an hour
we reached the palace of the Marquis of
Salmanaca, which, if not richer, is
certainly pleasanter and more elegant than
the Royal Palace in the city. 1t contains
many treasures of art and we were not
little surprised to find in the dining-room
large painting OF the Landing of the Pill
grims at plymouth" We returned to the
city, and rode through the Prado, where
we had fine opportunity to see the FASH
ionable people of Madrid in carriages and
on foot. The ladies almost invariably wore
the mantttla, which is kind of lact. veil.
on the head. The Spanish cloak does not
60 out OF fashion among the common peo-
pie. Beggars and thinkers wear it, and we |
have seen man ploughing with one over
his shoulders.
The Puerto del Sol is lively place. In |
the centre OF it is an extensive fountain. I
The sidewalks are crowded with people
boys selling newspapers, women selling to-
bacco, cigars, and matches; men, women.
boys. and girls selling Undergraduates.
Standing IN front of the hotel, the stranger
is lmportuned every moment by lottery
seller. You are addressed as "Seiiorito.O
il you sit down in a cafe or restaurant.
they pursue you. In addition to these.
you are invited to purchase tickets to the
opera and the bull-fight at ruinous prices.
We wished to attend the Royal Opera. the
first night of the season, but tickets were
held by spectators, who had bought up
nearly all of them, at two or three times
the advertised prices.
The closing hull-fght of the season was
on the last Sunday in October. Immense
hand-bills proclaimed that. eight bulls
would appear" on this great occasion.
All the forenoon the tickets were hawked
about the streets as premium. From 2
o'clock in the afternoon the Gale de Alca-
la was crowded with people on their way
to the bull-ring. About ten thousand peo-
pie attended the exhibition. We were
pleased to see among them but very few
ladies' not more than hundred. We
had good seat in the shade. When we
entered, the ring was full Of people, smok-
ing, chatting, and walking about. We con-
Tess that we felt cheap and mean, and we
could not help thinking of New England
Sabbath. But the crowd behaved very
well none were tipsy or noisy.
At signal, two men, dressed in black.
rode into the ring, saluted the city authori-
lies, who are supposed to preside over the
and made the circuit of the
This was a hint for the
people to leave the ring, which they did. /
A procession of those who were to take
part in the spectacle then marched into the :
enclosure. The two officers i'll black led
he column then came three espadas, or
'wordsmen, who are the stars of the per- :
ormance; they We're followed by four
otcadores, mounted upon WORKOUT, old :
lorses next came the bandaqillos; and
behind them is squad of men on foot,
whose business it was to tease and worry
he bulls and the rear is brought up by
hree mules, harnessed with gay trap !
,ings, to drag the bull from the arena
'lter he is killed. This imposing array of
'omoatants march up to the autoridad, and
make their obeisance and retire.
The blast of trumpet announces the
oming of the bull. Two picadores have
tationed themselves at one side of the ring,
With their lances poised. A pair of doors
ire thrown open, and the bull, with rib
IONS on his horns, rnshes into the arena. S
lie is broad-horned fellow, and enters at /,
! lively trot. Seeing the psca1ores, he
ushes at the first the lance pricks him on {
he shoulder, and he is easily turned aside, (,
md darts. at the other picador, who turns
i'm aside in the same manner. BY this S
ime, several chulos, or men with red and
elbow nantes in their hands, attract his
ttention; and skirmish with him for few
Either the same or two other
'icadores then face the bull; and at this
tage one or both of the old horses are
ored by the horns of the bull. Another :
last of the trumpet brings in the banderql-
os, who are gaily dressed in circus costume.
They are each armed with two sticks,
hree feet long, adorned with gay ribbons,
n the end of which is dart with fangs,
Vhich spring out when it is thrust In
the flesh of the animal, so that the in h
trument cannot be drawn. out. One of I
hese men faces the bull; and when the "
ngry beast comes at him with head low Il
red so as to transfixed him on his horns. u
e dexterously thrusts the two darts into :
ls shoulders, and lodges to one side. {
he pain maddens the bull still more, and
ne chulos tease him while longer. At
mother signal one of the espatlas appears,
larcheS ND to the dlttOrid1H makes n short