The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-09-18
THE BULL.FIGHT OF TO-DAY.

The BUhL-FIGHT OF TO-DAY.
Few cities, writes O Madrid CORE
spondent to the Cincinnati Commercial
present a gayer sight than the Spanish
capital on bright Sunday afternoon, as
the people crowd and jostle each other
on their way to that most disgusting
and degrading of all modern amuse.
ments, the bull-fght." Let us Join the
crowd and witness for once-for we are
told we will never go again-this ma
Uonal amusement. The ampitheatre is
situated at the end of the Gale de
Alcala, one of the finest streets in Eu-
rope, and the only very fine one in
Madrid AS you pass along it it is
amusing to see the old "hacks," which
cannot possibly go out of n walk during
the week, tearing along like mad, for a
slow coach will not do in Spain where
bull-hght is concerned. AS we entered
the building, which is said to seat 90
oUO, every seat was occupied, every foot
OF standing room was crowded, even
the roof was so loaded down with people
as to make it appear anything but safe,
Tor the bull-tghts are almost as neces-
sary to the Spaniard as his daily bread,
and many have been known to sell their
clothes in order tc buy tickets. The
arena is separated from the people by n
passage protected by walls about eight
feet high, over which the "men of the
cape Jump closely pursued by the
bull. While waiting for the sport to
begin, let us look around on the i'm
mense mass of people. The roof is oc-
cupied by the newsboys and ragamuffins
OF the city under it are the "boxes,"
which are sold for the season, and are
at present filed by the aristocracy of
the city. The rest of the audience is
general mixture of high and low, rich
and poor. Over on the other side is a
low door, behind which we can hear
the bull believing, impatient to be out,
but the performance has commenced,
the procession has entered the circle,
and the men are saluting the Judges.
First come the marshals, who are fol-
lowed by the m0tadores, then in turn
the "men of the cape" the picadores.
who are mounted and armed with n
long rod having in the end a small
dagger-like point, and lastly the mules.
gaily decked out in ribbons, which are
to carry out the dead animals.
You would think from the appearance
of the men, dressed as they are in CAV
colored satins embroidered in silver
and gokl, white silk stockings and dain-
ty satin slippers, that they were going
toa fancy ball. The dress is the same that |
has always been worn by men in their
position, and, as long as the huli-fghts |
last, 1t is probable there will be no
change. The mules have been driven
out, and the men have placed them
selves around the ring, those on horses,
the plcadores, being placed nearest the
door where the bull is to enter. The |
horses are old and considered useless. |
They are blindfolded, and their riders,
armed only with the weapon have de-
scrlbed, and which is only intended to
lnfuriate the bull. Being blindfolded.
the poor animals have no possible
chance to escape or defend themselves.
They are simply placed there to give
the people blood, and not until the
ground is strewn with blood do they
take any interest in the performance.
If, at the first rush of the h':il, the
horse is not literally die, mboweled.
they boot and hiss his .1der for not
having placed him the proper posi-
lion, The "men OF the cape" are scat
5ered over + q ring, each carrying a
arge circular cape of red and blue, with
which - case a mans life is in danger,
NY decoy the bull, which will always
ollow the last object he sees. The sig
lal for his entrance was given by the
1and, the door opened, and with roar
le rushed into the circle. He was a
'icious-looking little bull, and shook
rs head, as much as to say, "I shall
make short work of all in this ring"
u course he was first attracted by the
brightest cape, at which he plunged,
caring it to fragments, driving its
bearer over the wall, following after and
hasing him three times around the
passage before they could get him back
nto the ring. Finding his man had
scaped, he turned with a most fero-
lous roar, aad plunged at one of the '
!orses, literally disemboweling him
he poor beast ran around the ring with {
us entrails trailing the ground, and '
he blood spouting in torrents.
The bull struck again, tearing him all !
o pieces, so that you could not tell he
ad ever been a horse. Then the peo- {
lie cheered and shouted with delight I
he disgusting spectacle seemed to turn
hem crazy. Ladies, elegantly dressed, t
nd little children, who, though young ,
4 years, were old in their love for this {
port, stood up in their seats screaming {
nd stamping, seeming perfectly de- t
rous with delight men threw their j
pats and hats into the ring, and money f
y the handful was showered on the t
icadore for having SO successfully set |
is horse. AS an American afterward g
sit seemed more like hell !" t
ian anything he ever Witnessed. Can c
Ou wonder that country is degraded t
hen its people have such tastes as s
lis, and yet they are surrounded by 1
le most beautiful objects of nature i
I'D art ? And yet these same people, S
no are so delighted at the sight of @
lood, will go next day and spend hours t
their picture gallery (the finest in the il