The Red Cloud chief., 1888-06-15
PAS1iMES OF MExIcO.


Am,n=ments That Would Nevor Flourish
in the United States.
While bu.l-fi.hts may really be called
the great national amusement in Mex.
leo. it must not be supposed that public
opinion on this subject is undivided.
The champions of ball lighting are
enthusiastic. but its opponents are
ard vehement enough to de-
ligh: the hearts of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty people. Occa-
.SiOnally a CORE a dc tOros is organized
" amateurs for the purposes of benef-
lcecce. and then the press leads the
unhappy projectors with ccnsure and
satire. While many hiyh-castc Mex
cans undoubtedly delight in this sport
a large number regard it with abhor-
renee, and the Mexican ladies almost
always express against it disapproyal.
fear >nd horror. Yet a bul!-fight.
properly conducted. is by no means so
revolving a spectacle nor SO cruel a
performance a is generally believed.
It is. OF course. extremely popular
with the masses. and there is no doubt
that these performances serve as \
social safety-valve. where finds vent
the natural evil AID savage element in
the makeup Of humanity. which wOald
otherwise expcnd itself in violence and
disorder rs regards fcllow-crcatures.
Til. coieadero. or failing the bull. is
a diversion much affected by the young
men of Mexico. barring t Ose of effem-
nate tastes and habits. In this sport
there is the chase by a number of rid
ers ola bull let loose from \ corral ut
one end Of IN inc!Oscd avenue. two or
three hundred yards long. The bull is
given 4 fair start. and tine hOrsemen
dash after him. dropping back N by
ore until only the most forward is left.
and he. guiding his horse alongside
the flying game. grasps tie tail of his
bovine ex~cellcncy. and. dcxterously
throwing one leg ovc il. cndeayors to
jerk The animil of its feet. and usu-
ally docs SO. Tho fea: is one If skill
rather than strength. aud ever women
have beef, known to perform it. There
is an element Of danger. but it is not
revolving. There is even y comic strain
n the foolish look If the bull rs he
scrambies to his feet again. These
exhibitions are seldom of \ public
nature. hut are organized by \ cir
Gle of friends for exercise and amusc-
ment.
The pelea &c salios. OF cock-tisht is
a mur1r more brutal and sickening
show than n bull-liSht. 1t is Il most
vicious sport, too. in the way IF gam
bling. really enormous sums Lc:n.
staked on the issue of these conibats
The greatest attention is paid to the
breeding. rearing and care of the game
cocks, and animals of noted record are
conveyed between distant points Of the
Republic to engage IN contests. They
are shipped in curious crates of woven
cane. and the utmost care is observed
in their transportation. Ladies do not
attend cock-tishts.
Lectures, concerts. etc. are rare and
poorly p~atrOnized in Mexico. Par!or
games arc little followed on the pla-
team. but moro comn,o IN the ''warm
lands" where. indeed. lif. in every re-
spect assumes a brighter. gayer aspect
under tropica: influences Ladies' ride
little. though equestrian exercise is
(Seeping in to SONS extent. chiefly
through the influence Of foreigners.
Mexican men. Of course. almost all
ride surprisingly well. Drives in Mex
leo are u formal aud stupid matter. |
consisting Of HOMOGENEOUS turns on the
Alamed or boulevard. Picnics. lawn
parties. tennis. crOquct and many other
amusements dear to the Anglo-SaxOn
heart are almost unknown in Mexico, |
due to the aforesaid social restrictions,
which also sorely hamper the line Of
evening calls. etc. Rinkins and base
ball begin. to b. known in sections af-
fcctcd by American contact. but it will
be long ere the youth Of Mexico enjoys
Al adequate share Of amuscments.-
Nerican Letter.