The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-08-17
MEXICO.
MATAMORAS BULL FIGHT
A Senorita More Attractive Than the
Bull Fight-Happy jacks Fam
dango Spanish Manners
and Music-ExcursiOn.

MATAMoRAS, MEXICO, Aug. H. Spe-
cial Correspondence Yesterday was a
big day, grand holiday in the "Heroic
city" So called "heroic," the natives
say, because it is impregnable and has
never been taken by any invading party.
Learning that q bull fight would come
off at tho "Plaza de Capilla" in the al-
ternoon, your reporter went thenceWard,
attracted as other MeNicans by eNpecta
tons.
At the appointed time, your reporter
went TO the plaza mentioned and found
a small place surrounded by the cane or
bamboo wall about fifteen feet high.
There was, as in an American city, the
usual number of boys and loungers
around the door-it somewhat resent
bled a circus day. Asking the price OF
to buy fire ,engine-this being q
worthy object, your reporter eN-
periencod no Qualms Of conscience
about seeing bull iight, the door
keeper replied: "Filty cents in the shade
and p cents in the sun" Not having as
yet lost our Yankee ingenuity we took a
50-ccnt seat.
This seems to show that the Mexican
people are adopting many ways and Gus
toms from their American neighbors.
Instead of having reserved seats they
charge extra for shade.
Well, mounting some riCketY stairs
the reporter soon found himself on q
small platform, which ran in circle
around the arena orpit in which tho bull
fight was to come oil. This pit was
small and surrounded by low wall
built Of planks (oasy Of access in case
the bull became Vicious). Looking
around for the reserved seats, on the
left were some benches covered by q tar
paulin, and on the opposite side
the sun was shining as if paid to do so.
| Taking the tarpauln covered benches,
the reporter awaited Developments.
| Pretty soon the seats were filled by
MeXicans Of all sizes, with some Of the
| geutler sen. My time was equally di-
| Vided with watching a back-eycd
sonorita and the bull fight, and I must
admit that the former was the greater
attraction. The fight was Il sham; there
were six shoemakers and six bulls-both
afraid. Indeed, the reporter was much
disappointed. He expected to see some
sport. There was no fight in either
party. 1t reminded us Of our school
days, when two boys would fight if
After several rounds, the crowd dis
pcrsed. Then the next contci
Of attraction, was "lIappy Jacks
fandango at ia Magnolia Garden.
There was indeed large crowd, plenty
Of lights and dust, but very poor music
, Every one seemed to be having good
time. The dances are all after the Span
ish style, very slow but pretty, and the
| Mexican people are natural dancers. II
will be my pleasure in my next to de
scribe u fancy ball, soon to be givcn il
the operahouse.
At the iMndangO the music was in the
/ centre and all dancing around in cir
Gle, open air and on natures ball ground
3 1t was pretty sight. There were about
. 100 dancing and the various costume,
: of the fair senoritas presented Il brigh
, picture.
a After leaving Happy Jacks garde,
a the reporter wendell his way to tn
}, main plaza to enjoy the "retreta," o
d music by the military band of tin
70 Fourth battalion. This was indeed
:. treat. The band is composed of thirty
g one instruments, and the music, al
! being Spanish and Mexican, was yer,
q sweet. Somehow the Mexican musi
I sounds sweet and slow to we Amcri
{ cans. There were great many persons
/ and Il peculiarly of them was when tn
r music was playing all promenaded
n The Young senior and his scnOrita, TN
T. staid scnOraS, young men and children
h they, rs race, must move when must
plays. When the intcrnissious cam
all sat down.
10 Excursion trains were run to Rcynorl
n distance of sixty miles, giving partie
an opportunity of visiting the "iiestas
ortair then in progress.
,rI Parties who went say 1t was a YER
u nice affair.
r Taken in all no one could grumblc g