Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-24


AUDIENCES.
Neatly l., 600 people witness every one of these
more important fie5tas dc toro.. The half thou
sand soldiers are divided into compact squads and
stationed In various commanding places In the
amphtheater. A lew hundred women are here
from among los mestizos or the mixed bloods, a
few or the poorer whites with their husbands, and
occasionally, In the private boxes, the wives OF
high oinclals, with here and there u curious Amer
lean tourist and her companions Ten thousand
OF the people present are provided with some
hide0us sound-maklng device with which 10 add TO
the Din In emphasizing applause or scorn. The
band is playing the lvelest OF airs. Everybody is
n!led with alert. excited expectancy. AT precisely
O'Clock the governor general, VINO acts as the
president or master OF ceremonies, and staff ac-
cOmplnied by dignitarieS and military Officers Of
high rank from te forts, enter the palco del presl-
Behind the goyernor-generdl stands a truinpeter.
AT a signal from tue fJrm-r, shrin and clear above
the highest notes OF the band sounds
Tue ORDER TO BEGIN.
This is greeted with great applause Instantly
the door OF the puerto de los opens and the
gobernador, or director OF amusements, enters
mounted, hat In hand, gallOps 10 the bIrrera in
'front.' OF the President, bows low TO him, and being
gwen the key which unlocAs the ehiqueros passes
II 10 the ehiquero or buil-keeper, and gaops from
sight where he entered. Then slowly comes the
procession OF espadas, matadors, banderiileros.
picadors. and chulOs. The espadaS and matadorS
are bareheaded, their hair done In queues. They
are atlred IN spotless linen, velvet jackets jeweed
sashes, silk knee oreeche, and hose, and wear
OF the cOstiiest material, and an espada d. ide
and note wears upon MS person In attire and jew
els the value OF many thousand dollar. The BAN
derilleros and chuloS are less expensively, but
still richly attired- As these actors In the
scenes 10 follow, perhaps twenty in number
pass before the president, salutng him and
turn TO the vast thr0ng with smiles and saluta-
tons, while the oand, the trumpet corps and the
htZZaS OF the assembled thousands greet them In
rousing welcome, one catches In spite OF himself
the strange coDtagion OF the place. and cannot
bat be momeniariy fascinated by this true pic
ture OF the miCdle ages so stirringiy swept into
the last quarter OF Our nineteenth century. In
the hu0bub and excitement your eyes fall on the
bold picadors with their long pixies, their tawny
yellow raimelt covering hundred pounds OF iron
mail and their battered sombreros-tilting from
side 70 side on their bbnd-foided screws OF nags
too poor TO die yet momentarily instlnctively In
spired with terror-and you comprehend the dole
Iuily ridiculous side Of IL all
THE CHALLENGE.
But the vociferousness OF the crowd and the
clamor OF the musical Instruments have Increased
those In the arena. casting their bright colored
capas aside have gracefully arranged themselves
along the barTera. TIE door OF the tori opens at
the signal OF the lrumpeter. A banderillero
flashes his scarlet cloak at the wild bull within his
DARK pen For N instant there Is heard threat.
euing roar Another fash Of the hated scarlet and
L. 900 are upon their feet, GREATNESS. The chal-
lepge Is accepted with rush. The man viii be