St. Landry democrat., 1885-08-22

their private carriages and were now
their nriyate boxes. Trades-people and
artisans were crowding the best OF the
.nnreseryed seats, and thousands of gayly
dressed peasants and domestlcs were
standing or were sitting on the steps
leading up to the seats. The assembly
was striklngly vivid in color and spirit.
The manti1las of the ladies used Tor
head-dress, and falling upon the shout
ders, are especially becoming and grace
full. All ladies use fans necessarily;
thew do with a rapid and CO.
ouetish facility which is Inherited
with their exquisitely lovely races
Altogether the place and its surround
inps suggested a picture of life quite
oriental in its outline and effect. The
music, by q band of performers NUMBER
ing fifty, seemed at first to come trom
afar, and to come nearer gradually Iii
at last the musicians entered their stand.
The band marched several times around
the ring Just before the lighters ana
bulls entered. All the music L hear In
Mexico was not only good, but a Ger
tain characteristics / do not remember
to have noticed in music elsewhere.
Even if familiar tunes were heard-and
this was very seldom-the playing OF
them was marked by national peculiar
tiles, The music to-day was most no.
table because it was distinctly illustra-
tive. The music was as exciting as the
contest in the ring. 1t was wild ana
full of battle-indeed, it was more. than
military, it was brutal. There was
blood and there was death in the savage
changing of the cymbals and in the rat
thing of the drums. There was a slngu-
lar Wildness and barbaric quality in the
music of the horns, and that all this was
in perfect time. and there was well
trained pr~ecisionin the execution. Dur
ing the progress of the fighting the mu-
sic was exactly descriptive, and some
times even anticipated the teats IN the
ring.
The first persons to enter were two
clowns, attired III the grotesque tights
worn by such professionals IN h circus:
Their mock antics of tumbling into and
out of danger were most amusing, n
were far more clever than those we are
used to seeing in our best tent shows.
Following the clowns were four riders
in the saddle. Two of these carried
long spears, with which to tease and
fret the bulls, and the other two carried
lassos, to be used in case Of need to lead
| a horse from the ring, should he be dis
| abled by accident or by encounter with
! the beasts. Last of all came in four
men of most imposing physique and of
distinguished bearing. The captain
was a man not only of powerful ply
sique and gent1emanly bearing, but he
had a face of singular refinement. These
| fighters were quite bedecked with tinsel
and spangles. Captain Ponciano Diaz
had won many prizes, and ranks at the
head of all living bull fighters. His
breast was covered with badges gained
in Spain as well as in Mexico. Indeed,
Sig. Diaz's make up was altogether
gorgeous. But the glory of his apparel
was quite bedimmed by the glory of his
heroic presence and demeanor. He
was at once the center of all eyes and
interest. He it was who was to expose
himself to the actual danger, and who
was to bear off the laurels of victory.
All others in the ring were there only to
add to his splendor; they were to mad.
den and enrage the bull, only to afford
opportunity for Diaz to display his dex.
terity, strength and agility. At every
encounter the captain was to risk his life
in attempting the life of the infuriated
bull. And now all was in readiness
The music became furious. The excite
ment seemed to rise with the changing
of the cymbals and the clarion sounds o.
NJ I,o VTSF1N- ,nTpOH1I@ ho0FTn0r e
groom leads in a bull, and, with
bound, haughtily r%etires, after loosing
the animal. Each assistant carries
'capa' gracefully upon his lef
arm, which is a brillian
cloth measuring, perhaps, TIVE
wards square, which is used t
throw at the bull, and in his eyes il
case of a dangerous encounter. Their
are within the ring four screens boarde'
up to a height of about eight feet, ant
behind which the men shelter them
selves when suddenly set upon by tn
beast. The fighters tease and infuriat
the bull in every conceivable way, an
with a recklessness and daring tina
really cause the spectators to hold thei
breath in amazement and in expectanc
of the men being gored to death by tn
maddened beast, to increase the fur
and rage of which spears, decorate
with brilliant paper flowers and wit
hooked points, called ''banderillos, ar
thrust into him, and these drag into th
flesh till the blood pours out in stream
and he rushes to and fro in wildes
agony and revenge. His tormentol
are equal to even greater cruelties. tn
captain all the while is watching h
opportunity. He sports with q swor
and is constantly leaping in th
very eyes of the bull wit
a blazing red capa, and when til