The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-07-20
PAsTIMEs OF MEXICO.
Amusemcnts That Would Never Flourish
In the United States

In tho united states
While bull-fights may really be called
the great national amusement In Mex
leo. Ii must not be supposed that public
opinion on this subject Is undivided
The champions of bull-fighting are
enthusiastic, but its opponents are
numerous ard vehement enough TO de-
light the hearts OF the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty people. 0cca-
sionally corr da de toros is organized
by amateurs for the purposes of benef-
icenee. and then the press leads the
unhappy projectors with censure and
satire. While many high-caste Mexi-
cans undoubtedly delight in this sport,
a large number regard II with abhor-
renee, and the Mexican ladies almost
always express against IL disapproval,
fear and horror. Yet bull-iight,
properly conducted. Is by no means so
revolving n spectacle nor so cruel
performance as is generally believed.
IL is, of course, extremely popular
with the masses. and there is no doubt
that these performances serve as
social safety-valve. whore finds vent
the natural evil and savage element in
the makeup of humanity, which would
otherwise expend itself In violence and
disorder as regards fellow-creatures
Tha coleadero. or failing the bull. is
a diversion much affected by the young
men of Mexico. barring & ose of efIeni-
mate tastes and habits In this sport
there is the chase by number OF rid
ers of bull let loose from a corral at
one end of An inclosed avenue. two or
three hundred yards long The bull Is
given fair start and the horsemen
dash after him. dropping back one by
one until only the most forward Is left,
and he. guiding his horse alongside
the flying game. grasps che tail of his
bovine eNeellency. and. deXterously
throwing one leg over it. endeavors to
jerk the amin Il off its feet. and usu-
ally does so. The feat is one of skill
rather than strength. and even women
have been known to perform it. There
Is m element of danger. but it Is not
revolving. There Is even n comic strain
in the foolish look of the bull as he
scrambles to his feet again. These
exhibitions are seldom of public
nature. but are organized by cir
Gle of friends for exercise and amuse-
ment
The pelea de gallos. or cock-fight IL
a much more brutal and sickening
show than a tull-fight Ii Is a most
vicious sport, too. in the way of gam
bling. really enormous sums being
staked on the issue of these combais
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-hghts
Lectures, concerts. etc, are rare and
poorly patronized in Mexico. Parlor
games are little followed on the pla-
teau. but more common on the ''warm
lands" where. indeed, life in every re-
spect assumes a brighter, gayer aspect
under tropical influences Ladies' ride
little. though equestrian exercise Is
creeping in to some extent chiefly
through the influence of foreigners.
Mexican men, of course, almost all
ride surprisingly well. Drives in Mex
leo are formal and stupid matter.
consisting OF monotonous turns on the
Alamedl or boulevard. Picnics. lawn
parties, tennis. croquet and many other
amusemcnts dear to the Anglo-Saxon
heart are almost unknown In Mexico.
due 10 the aforesaid social restrictions,
which also sorely hamper the line of
evening calls, etc. Rinking and base
ball begin to b known in sections af-
fected by American contact but it will
be long ere the youth of Mexico enjoys
an adequate share of amusements.-
Mertcan Letter.