Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-22
Ru,i.ri.hts IN maarid-

In every crowd and cafe you see the tall,
shapeiy, dark-faced, silent men with cool,
professionally murderous look like that Of our
border desperadoes. whose enormously wide
black hats, short jackets, tight trousers. and
pigtails of braided hair proclaim the chu,os
or members of the noble ring. Intrepid, with
muscles of steel, and finely formed, they are
very illiterate: we saw one efthem gently taking
his brandy at the Cafe de Paris after a hard
combat, while his friend read from an evening
papera report of the games in which he had Just
fought, the mans own education not enabling
him to decpher print. But the higher class of
these professionals are the idols, the demi-gods
of the people. Songs are made about them, their
deeds are painted on fans. and popular chrOmOs
illustrate their loves and woes: people crowd
around to see them IN hotels or on the streets as
ifthey were heroes or star tragedians Pet dogs
are named for the we'll known ones; and
it was even rumored that one of the chief
swordsmen had secured the affections of pa
trician lady, and would have married her but
for the interference of friends. Certain it is
that whole class of young bucks of the lower
order-'"Arrys' is the British term-get them
selves up In the closest allowable imitation of
bul-fghters, down to the tuft of hair left grow
ing in front Of the ear. The espadas or nattu-
dores (killers). who give the mortal blow, hire
each one his c,tQdrilI-a corps or assistants
including pacddores. bdnde7'tlIeros, and pun
ter'itlo. For every fight they receive five hum
fortunes. To see the sport well from seat in
the shade, one must pay well. Tickets are mo-
nopolized by spectators, who, no less than the
lighters, have their ring" and gore buyers as
the bull does horses. We gave two dollars
apiece for places Nevertheless the route to
the Place of Bulls is lined for a mile with omni-
buses, tartanas, broken-down diligences, and
wheeZy cabs to convey the horde of intending
spectators to the fight on Sunday afternoons;
long stream Of pedestrians files in the same di-
rection, and the SNOWY turn-outs the rich add
dignity to what soon becomes wild rush for
the scene of action. The mule bells ring like a
rain of metal, whips crack, the drivers shout
wildly; and at full gallop we dash by windows
full of on-lOokers, by the foaming fountains of
the PradO. and up the road to the grim ColOs-
scum of stone and brick. set in the midst of
scorched and arid fields, with the faint peaks
OF the snOw-capped Guadarrama range seen,
miles to the north, through dazzling white sun
shine
Within is the wide ring. sunk in circular pit
OF terraced granite crowned by galleries. The
whole great round, peopled by at least ten thou
sand beings, is divided exactly by the sun and
the shadow-sOt q SOnabrd: and from our cool
place we look at the vivid orange sand of the
half-arena in sunlight, and the tiers of seats be-
purple and green, are welded to shelter the
eyes of those in the cheaper section or bring air
to their lungs. No connected account Of bull
tourney can impart the vividness, the rapid
changes, the suspense the skill, the pictur-
esqueness, or horror, of the actual thing All
occurs in rapid glimpses, in fierce, dramatic,
brilliant and often CHASTITY pictures which fade
and reform In new phases on the instant. The
music is sounding the fans are fluttering; anna
teurs strOlling between the wooden barriers of
the ring and the lowest seats; hatless men are
hawking fruit and aguardiente-when trumpets
announce the grand entry. 1t is superb sight:
the picadOres with gorgeous jackets and long
lances on horseback, in wide Mexican hats,
their armOr-cased legs in buckskin trousers; the
swOrdsmen and others on foot shining with
gold and silver embroidery on scarlet and blue,
bright green, saffron, or puce-colored garments,
carrying clOakS of crimson, violet and canary
At the head is the mounted alg,tazil in omnOtls
black. who carries the key of the bull-gate
Everything is punctual, orderly, ceremonious.
Then the white handkerchief as signal, from
the president of the games in his box; the trum-
pet-blare again; and the bull rushing from his
lair! There is wild moment when. if he be of
good breed, he launches himself impetuous as
the ball from a thOusand-t0n gun directly upon
his toes, and sweeping around half the circle
put them to flight over the barrier or into mid
ring, leaving horse or two feied in his track
have seen one fierce AnGalusan bull within
ten minutes kill five horses while making two
circuits OF the ring. The first onset against a
horse is horrible to witness The poor steed.
usually lean and decrpt, is halted until the
bull will charge him, when instantly the picador
III the saddle aims wel-poised blow with his
lance, driving the point into the bulls back only
about an inch, as an irritant. Yoe hear the
horns tear through the horses hide: you feel
them go through yourself Ribs crack; there's a
clatter OF hoofs. harness, and the riders armor;
sudden heave and fall-dsaster!-and then
the bull PUSHES away in pursuit ola yellow man.
tie flOuriShed to distract him.
The banderilleros come each holding two or
namental barbed sticks, which he waves to at
tract the bull. At the brutes advance he runs
to meet him, and IN the moment when the huge
head is lowered for lunge he plants them deft-
~, one on each shoulder, and springs aside.
Perhaps, getting too near, he fails, and turns to
fly; the bull after, within Few inches. He fees
to the barrier, drops his cloak on the sand. and
vaults over: the bull springs over too into the
narrow alley, whereupon the fighter being close
pressed leaps back into the ring light as a bird,
but saved by mere hair's-breadth from a toss
ing or tramplng to death. The crowd follow
every turn with shouts and loud comments
and cheers. $50, bad little Dull!" "Let
the picadores charged" ''More horses! more
hOrsesl" Well done, Gallito!" thine for
the the death! the matadores!" and so on.
HumOr mingles with some Ofther remarks and
there Is generally one volunteer buffoon who,
choosing lull in the combat, shrieks out rude
witticisms that bring the laugh from thousand
Threats.
But If the management of the sport be not
to their liking, then the multitude grow in
stantly stormy; rising on the benches they
below their opinions to the president whistle
stamp, scream, gestculate It is the tumult
Of mob, appeasable only by speedier blood
shed. And what blOodshed they get! A horse
or two, say, lies lifeless and crumpled on the
earth; the others, with bandaged eyes. and
sides hideously pierced and red-splashed. are
spurred and whacked with long sticks to make
them go. But it Is time for the banderilleros,
and after that for the swordsman. He adj
vances, glittering, with proud, athletic step,
the traditional chignon fastened to his pigtail
and holding out his bare sword makes a brief
speech to the president: 81 go to slay this bull
for the honor of the people of Madrid and the
most excellent president Of this tourney Then
throwing his hat away he proceeds to his task
OF skill and danger 1t is here that the chief
gallantry of the sport begins. With scarlet
cloak IN one hand he attracts the bull, waves
him to one side or the other, battles him, REIN
yites HMM fine, plays with and controls him
as If he were kitten, thoughalways with eye
alert and often in peril At last having got
him lin position, he lifts the blade aims and
with forward spring plunges it to the hit at
point near the top of the spine. Perhaps the
bull recQils. reels and dies with that thrust; but
more often he is Infatuated, and several strokes
are required to finish him. Always. however,
the blood gushes freely, the sand is stained with
it, and the serried crowd, intoxicated by it, roar
savagely. Still, the ''many headed beast" is
fastidOus. If the bull be struck in such way
tn mako him SOOuf hiS 1ifo Of fho ,nvfr;la