The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-04-18

composed OF all CLASSES, from INC pfouu
Castiiian who came behind his four-in-
hand, with retinue of outriders, to the
poor pe0n who had been saving his
scanty earnings for week and walked
five miles to witness the CHASTITY specta-
Gle. There were perhaps lO,000 people,
and one-fifth of them were women in
silk and satins, in jewels and rare laces.
who hid their eyes behind their fans
when the spectacle was too repuisive,
but encouraged the matadors with APP
plause at the end of each act.
A band of music played lively airs.
and played them well, to entertain the
people until the Governor came, whose
presence being recognized, the people
gave cordial cheer by way of well
come. Then the herald in the Govern
or's box blew signal which sounded
like the '.water CALI of the United
States cavalry, the doors of the pit.were
opened, and in marched a dozen or so
of matadors in the same sort of jacket
and breeches which they wear in the
pictures of Spanish life SO familiar to
all. Each wore plumed hat, scarlet
sash, poniard. and the gold lace upon
the black velvet showed their 1.-the and
supple forms to advantage. They looked
as Don Juan looks in the opera, while
the leader. Bernardo Cavino. '.del de-
cano de los toreros," was veritable
Figaro, in appearance at least. Each
carried a scarlet cloak upon his arm,
and in the other hand pike staff. Be-
hind them came a troop of eight horse
men upon gaily caparisoned steeds, with
the usual amount of silver and leather
trappings in which the Mexicans de-
light. The procession tailed up with a
team of four mules, hitched abreast,
dragging a whiffletree and long rope.
These, we were told, were for the pur-
pose of dragging on. the dead.
The cavalcade made circuit of the
amphitheater like the grand entree at a
circus, and upon reaching the Govern
or's box stopped. saluted him, and re-
ceived short address in Spanish, which
probably was simply one of approval
and congratulation at their fine appear
ance.
There was a rack in front of the Gov
ernor's box, upon which hung several
rows of darts, gayly decorated with
paper rosettes and paperfringes of gold,
and other brilliant tints. Upon these
racks the matadors hung their plumed
hats, and stood awhile beside them to
give the ladies and gentlemen of the
audience an opportunity to see and adj
mire. The gay horsemen rode out and
were followed by the mules, but the
former soon returned upon an entirely
different style of animals; poor, broken
down, lean, lame and NANCY hacks,
which looked as if they had been turned
out of some street-car stable as bait
for vultures. They were covered with a
sort of leather armor, and this concealed
their fleshless ribs, but nothing could dis
guise the stumbling and uncertain gait
with which they painfully ambled across
the arena under the savage squirting of
their riders. They managed to get
across and that was all.
The first set of horses were intended
for show and the second for slaughter.
Public opinion appears to demand that
something besides bull be sacrificed,
and the matadors not being amiable
enough to afford this qualification, a
pair of animated clothes-racks are
turned in to be gored. The poor beasts
are blindfolded, which is about the only
humane feature of the show.
The Governors herald gave another
blast, ut which the entire audience, who
were on the qui vive, arose and shouted.
A door across the pit opened. and a
large, clumsy, long-horned bull poked
his head out into the arena. The crowd
yelled, the matadors posed at different
parts of the ring-ten of thcm-and the
two horsemen pretended to get ready
for the fray.
The bull looked up, the only fright
ened being in the entire multitude. The
posters described him as "a valiant and
arrogant animal" He was fine piece
of beef, but he didn't want to hurt any,
body. Somebody behind spurred him,
and he ran into the ring. The doors
were closed behind, and he had no
haven in sight. He plunged one way,
but was met by three matadors, who
tapped their cloaks in his eyes; he
turned in the other direction but was
met by three more; then he. made
bolt between them, and darling toward
viz VthSi SfNC Va ihC SdSC IL SItti
leap, as if he would go over the eight-foot
wall. OF course he failed, but he
struck the planks with tremendous
force, tumbling forty or fifty fellows
who were perched on the top into heap
on the other side. 1t was the only
amusing feature of the whole show.
There was grand crash, loud
howl, forty or fifty legs were in the air,
and the audience shouted with laughter.
The bull turned around in frenzy, ran
to the other side of the ring, and
sought in vain for place to get out.
Then one of the horsemen rode up in
front of the animal and jabbed spear
into his face. The bull plunged at his
assailant, believing with pain. and
lifted the poor horse upon his horns,
raised him from the ground. and threw
him with great force against the side Of
the arena.
The rider, expecting the attack, was
prepared for it. and leaped with great
agility from the saddle Just as the two