St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-03-07

sho nay VI his country prOIuSeiN urOOp-
ing around him. He had two aides-de-
camp, his three children, and an order
", who with trumpet sounded blast
now and then to convey his Excellency' S
desires. We happened luckily to have
the adjoining box, from which we could
watch him closely and hear his COM
ments upon the performance.
The audience was very large and
composed of all classes, from the proud
Castilian who came behind his four-in-
hand, with retinue of outriders, to the
poor peon who had been saving his
scanty earnings for a week and walked
five miles to witness the ghastly specta-
Gle. There were perhaps 10000 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 repulsive,
but encouraged the matadors with ap-
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 call'' of the United
States cavalry, the doors of the phi. were
opened, and in marched 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, a 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 scarlet cloak upon his arm,
and in the other hand pike staff. Be-
hind them came troop Of eight horse
men upon gaily caparisoned steeds. with
the usual amount of silver and leather
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 out the dead.
The cavalcade made circuit of the
like the grand entree at q
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 paper fringes 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 ad-
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
1ut of some street-car stable as bait
.or vultures. They were covered with
sort of leather armor, and this concealed
heir fleshless ribs, but nothing could dis
yuise the shambling and uncertain gait
with which they painfully ambled across
he arena under the savage spurring of
heir riders. They managed to get
lcross and that was all.
The first set of horses were intended
or show and the second for slaughter.
'ublic opinion appears to demand that
besides bull be sacrificed,
md the matadors not being amiable
'nough to afford this qualification, a
,air of animated clothes-racks are
urned in to be gored. The poor beasts
re blindfolded, which is about the only
humane feature of the show.
The Governors herald gave another
last, at which the entire audience, who
we're on the qui vive, arose and shouted.
door across the pit opened, and a
arge, clumsy, long-horned bull poked
lis. head out into the arena. The crowd
elled, the matadors posed at different
'arts of the ring-ten of them-and the
wo horsemen pretended to get ready
or the fray.
The bull looked up, the only fright
ned being in the entire multitude. The
osters described him as "a valiant and
rrogant animal" He was a fine piece |
t beef. but he didn't want to hurt any
ody. Somebody behind spurred him,
nd he ran into the ring. The doors |
7ere closed behind, and he had no
aven in sight. He plunged one way,
ut was met by three matadcrs, who |
apped their cloaks in his eyes; he
lrned in the other direction but was |
,et by three more; then he made
olt between them, and darting toward
ne other side of the ring, gave a great |
zap, as if he would 60 over theeight-foot
rail. OF course he failed, but he
truck the planks with tremendous
,rce, tumbling forty or fifty fellows
tho were perched on the top into heap
n the other side. 1t was the only
musing feature of the whole show.
There was q grand crash, loud
owl, forty or fifty legs were in the air.
nd the audience shouted with laughter.
he bull turned around in frenzy, ran
, the other side of the ring, and
,ucht in vain for a place to get out.
hen one of the horsemen rode up in
ont Of the animal and jabbed spear
ito his face. The bull plunged at his
,sailant, believing with pain. and
fled the poor horse upon his horns,
Used him from the ground. and threw
Im with great force against the side OF
le arena
The rider, expecting the attack, was
repaired for it, and leaped with great
q 49, 1