The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-09-18
BULL FIGHT AT MADRID.
How the Spanish DOns Play at their Ma.
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day selected for these national sports
time which is during the season O
bull-fghts kind of holiday, or, more
correctly, a Saturnalia-called in Ma
drid the di0 de toros. Formerly the
price of seats, compared with the wage!
of labor, was excessive, but now the
government has graduated the scale O.
prices to suit all pockets. The bes
places in the boxes cost about one dol
lar a 6itLete Dr. SODlbrd, or ticket fol
the shady side in the amphitheatre
about fifty cents the commonest places
next to the arena, and exposed to the
SUP, two reals.
The people of Madrid are to be seer
in their element at bull fight; and
there the combats appear to be con
ducted with greater ceremony than IL
any other city, Seville, Valencia, and
Ronda no longer excepted. The Plazs
of Madrid will hold eighteen thousand
persons. This large open amphitheatre
is not remarkable building, but the
effect when filled is very fine. 1t is sit
uated short distance from the Prado,
and the gate of the Puerta de Alcala.
In this geographical centre of the re-
1CHuOllC nOWs hLnSOOn 90
terday-where caprice and absurdities,
virtue and vices, reign, the fame TO a
rising matador is made or marred, The
matador, or esp0d0s, as the Spaniards
term the slayer, is the most important
parsonage of the performance. In the
last act of the tauromachian tragedy
this great artist must stand face to face
with the bull in the presence of inexor-
able Judges, and with firm hand, eye,
and nerve, kill the bull according to
tauromachisn p ecedent, else undergo
the entne vocabulary of abuse which
the Spanish tongue 50 abundantly sup
plies.
Here is a description of a bull-fight
which took ~lace recently at the Plaza
de Toros at Madrid. On the centre of
the west side is the official box, where
the authorities are seated on the same
tier are the boxes of the grandees, filed
with fashionable spectators.
The commencement of the perform
ance was sigpalized by the entrance of
the toreros in procession, preceded by
mounted alguacils, or officers of police,
dressed in the ancient Spanish costume
of the time of Philip III. After pro-
ceeding around the arena and across the
lists, the combatants bowed to the Off
cial party and returned flourish of
trumpets and drums announced that the
spectacle was about to begin. Amidst
deafening applause the president from
his box threw gracefully down to the
chief of the alguacils the enormous key
that opened the toril where the bull was
kept.
The door flew open, and the bull
dashed headiong, with blind rage and
violence, into the arena. Amazed at
the novelty of his position, the animal
halted moment then catching sight
of the alguacil riding off at a gallop he
rushed upon horse and rider with closed
eyes and lowered horns. Fortunately
the alguacil was mounted upon a fine
and spirited animal quick as lightning
the steed trrned at the touch, and
escaped the deadly rush.
Then the enraged animal attacked in
succession the picadors in short con-
fict that ensued three horses were
lifeless upon the ground,
leaving the dismOunted and disarmed
riders exposed to imminent danger.
The chulOs, or foot combatants, how
ever, drew the attention of the animal
by dashing before his eyes a glittering
scarf. These new asSailants had need
of all their practiced agility. Occasion
ally the bull gave chase, and they could
only save themselves by leaping the
barriers. The evolutions of this con-
summate band were the most graceful
and exciting part of the exhibition, and
elected tumultuous applause. Another
steed was urged on to an encounter With
the bull, only to share the fate of his
Again the bull charged
at fifth horse and rider, and disem-
boweled the steed with his fatal horn
the picador fell heavily on the ground.
The plaudits were deafening.
Finally the signal was given an ac-
complished matador in full court dress
the ring by secret door, and
bowing low to the president, threw down
his cap in token of respect !; then facing
his terrific adversary, who was standing
alone in the now cleared arena, he shook
a red cloak suspended on a drawn
sword The bull made vio!e ent charge,
the mantle fell over his face, the bright
Toledo blade entered the neck to the
hilt, and he fell instantaneously, amidst
the plaudit shouts of the spectators. A
gayly decorated car drawn by mules or
with bells and streamers
now appeared and bore off the body in
triumph, which act closed the days
sport.
AS the horses are doomed to an almost
certain death, only very lean and dis
eased ones are employed, which can be
purchased for low price. 1t follows,
then, that the picadors are always badly
and their danger proportion
ally increased. To urge his steed for
ward and force him upon the bull, the
picador wears strong spurs armed with
Iong rowels. The wretched creatures
are driven blindfoId, without aught to
protect them, to inevitable slaughter,
nd destined only to exhaust the bulls
Jury and vigor. This laceration of the
horses, which seems to excite no pity
among the Spaniards, constitutes the
: ost revolving part of the exhibition.
Agriculture in Indian Territory.
From the journal of the fifth annual
session of the general council of the In
lian tribes of this territory we deduce
he following facts:
The Cherokees cultivate $4,000 acres,
he Choctaws IS, 900, Muscogees Is, 600,
md the Seminoles 10000. These are
he four largest tribes in the territory.
Nbo Y1rOduokiopc oro oy1ch os formnra of