Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-22
The National Sport in SpaIn-The
Famed FiOcks at Miura-A Visit
10 the Amptthentre.

10 tne Ahp1tnehlfe.
Before King Alfonso left Seville
he rode out to see the bulls in their
pasturage ground, a few miles from
the city. He was accompanied by
ex-Queen Isabella and several prin-
.eesses and infantas. The bulls of
the famed flocks of Miura are reared
not very far from Seville, and they
are generally reserved for great oc-
casions. A correspondent writes:
"The noble animals are allowed to
remain in the open country until
within a couple of days of their
death, and then the skillful herds
men select from the hocks those
doomed to the ring. They are care
fully led away with the help of tame
bulls called cabestros. The Miura
bulls, six in number, had thus been
brought to an immense plain with
in sight of Seville, beyond the pro-
menade near the Guadalquivir, and
about three miles away from the
grounds Of the San Telmo Palace.
All along the road carriages and
gigs were as numerous as horsemen,
going to see the bulls. Close
by the handsome carriages of
the nobility were large breaks
full Of the humber amateurs
eagerly discussing the points
of the game. Side by side with
officers and ladies were the afcio-
nados Of the popular sport, riding
on fiery little nags up to the very
spot where the bulls were standing
in a crowd of oxen and cabestros.
You can fancy an immense plain
covered with grass, and many
howered plants in full blossom, and
no roads but wagon tracks. In the
distance mountains closed the hori-
zon on one side, and Seville, with
her churches and houses, stood out
beyond the Gnadalquivir Z" y 4
Andalusia is the center and train
ing ground of the torreros, as it is
the best sort of country to breed
the bulls. Most of the cuadrillas
are recruited in these southern
provinces, and all classes take an
interest in it. When the day comes
for the bull-fght all business re-
mains in suspense, and many shops
are closed. The lower classes are
most enthusiastic of the sight, and
young men Of the bourgeoisie Just
as much as the beaus of the aristoc-
racy, consent to make friends with
famed espadas, or even with the more
humble and agile banderillero. +
Andalusia must be seen when
the sun shines and gives its towns
their real aspect Of life, its land.
scape those splendid contrasts of
color which are most striking when,
as at present, spring has put over
the plains and the foliage those
fresh and lovely tints which semi
African sun soon destroys. Seville
looked quite another scene on
Easter Day. and as the afternoon
advanced, people on foot, and the
more favored in vehicles Of every
description, began to direct their
steps to the bull-ring. The en-
trance was so crowded that the
guards and soldiers had to use ac-
tual force to collect the tickets even
long before the hour appointed.
Tickets for even the worst seats
had been for days in great re-
quest, so much so that foreigners in
the hotels paid fancy prices for any
chair. Before 4 o'clock every inch
of space in the entire amphitheater
was crammed, and it can fully hold
1900. AS regards architecture,
it was very ugly, to say the least,
and, but for the ladies sitting in
the front rank of the galleries, it
could not have suffered any COM
parison with the Plaza de Toros of
Madrid. The boxes above were
filled with ladies wearing the white
mantilla, and most of them dressed
in bright-colored silks. Many of
the faces were well known in Ma
drid, and, indeed, not a few Of the
fair countesses in the gallery fol-
lowed the whole performance with
the keen zast of o6cionodos In