Morning journal and courier., 1888-03-24

until the fight for their lives to the death be-
gins, in front of which is the toril or en-
trance of the doomed brute to the arena
Exactly opposite these chiqueros is the puer-
ia de los toreros, or entrance of the bull
fighters themselves; while everywhere are
stamped the castle-and- keys of the national
coat of arms. and from the tops of the
standards marking the divisions of the pri-
vate boxes above float yellow and red flags,
the ensign and types of the greed and blood
of tyrannous Spain. Beneath the rows and
boxes behind the harreras, are large num-
Der of apartments-the cantina or public
restaurant; the salon de los toreros or the
''green-room" of the bull-fghters; butcher
shop where the dead bulls are dressed and
made ready for use by the hospitals of the
city, to which they are given; the enfermiria
or lnfirmary where the wounded or dead are
cared for, and diminutive chapel with at
tendant priest, where the bull-fghter kneels
before the virgin Ga Virgen de la Seledad)
imploring her protection during the combat
and where he may receive the last sacrament
should he be dragged out the 1eses muertes
gate instead of his dumb antagonist
No description of a bull-fght can be made
possible Of comprehension unless number
or words and terms whose avoidance of use
is impossible are first defined. Plaza de
toros, literally the bull place, is the circus or
structure for the fiesta de toros or bull-fght
itself. OF the actors in the affair the espa-
das (spades or blades from the sword) are the
first most noted matadors or fighters
bearing the same relation to the ordinary
matador as the 'sUar" does to the ''leading"
man upon the stage. His work is to singly
engage and dispatch the bull when the ami
NAL has been sufficiently enraged to satisfy
the onlookers. Picadores are horsenen clad
in iron armer to Withstand the onslaughts of
the bull. The picador is armed with long
plea or pike with blunt steel point. Then
come the banderilleros, who, with no re-
course of defense save their alertness and
heetness, plunge banderillas or barbed darts
two feet long, bedeeked with gay ribbons,
into the bulls neck to assist in enraging him.
The ehulos are sort of general utility peo-
pie to succor a dismoGnted pioador Or any
one wounded in the fray, or carry off the
dead, as not infrequently happens. Last
comes the puntillero, who stands ready to
give the quieting stroke when the bull is al
ready fallen, if he may happen to be tena-
cious of life in his death struggles.
THE SPECTATORS AND PERFORMERS.
Nearly twelve thousand people witness ev
cry one Of these more important festas de
toros. The half thousand soldiers are divi-
ded into compact squads and stationed in va p,
rious commanding places in the amphithea-
ter. few hundred women are here, from
among los mestizos or the mixed bloods, q
few of the poorer whites with their husbands;
and occasionally in the private boxes the
wives OF high officials, with here and there a
curious American tourist and her compan-
ions. Ten thousand of the people present
are provided with some hideous sound-mak-
ing device with which to add to the din in
emphasizing applause or scorn. The band is
playing the iveliest of airs. Every body is
filed with alert, excited expectancy. At
precisely three o'clock the governor-general,
| who acts as the president or master of cere-
monies, and staff, accompanied by dignita-
| ries and military officers of high rank from
| the forts, enter the palco de presidente and
are greeted by applause and groans. Be-
| hind the governor-general stands a trumpe-
/ ter. At signal frem the former, shrill and
| clear above the highest notes of the band,
sounds the order to begin. This is greeted
| with great applause. Instantly the door of
| the puerto de los toreros opens and the COB
| ernador, OR director Of amusements, enters,
| mounted, hat in hand gallops to the barrera
/ in front of the president, bows low to him,
| and, being given the key which unlocks the
| chiqueros, passes it to the ehiquero or bull
| keeper, and gallops from sight where he en-
| tered. Then slowly comes the procession of
espadas, matadors, banderilleros, picadors
and chulos The espadas and matadors are
bareheaded. their hair done in cues. They
1 are attired in spotless linen, velvet jackets
| jeweled sashes, silk knee breeches and hose
and wear low, easy, close-htting shoe
| These costumes are of the costliest material
his person in attire and jewels the value o.
many thousand dollars. The banderillero
| and chulos are less expensively but still
richly sttired. AS these actors in the
| scenes to follow, perhaps twenty in number,
pass before the president, salutiug him, and
turn to the vast throng with smiles and salu
| tations, while the band, the trumpet corpl
| and the huzzas of the assembled thousands
greet them in rousing welcome, one catches
in spite of himself the strange contegion O
| the place and cannot but be naomentarily fas
cinated by this true picture of the middle
ages SO stir1ingly swept into the last quarte
of our nineteenth century. In the hubbut
and excitement your eyes fall on the bold
pieadors with their long pixies, their tawny
yellow raiment covering q hundred pounds e
| iron mail, and their battered sombreres-
| fitting from side to side on their blindfoldec
screws of nags, too poor to die, yet moment
| arily instinctively inspired with terror-anc
you comprehend the dolefully ridiculous
side of it all.
THE CONTEST.
But the righteousness of the crowd ant
the clamor of the musical instruments hav
increased as those in the arena, casting thei
bright colored caps aside, have gracefully ar
ranged themselves along the barrera. Tn
door of the toril opens at the signal OF thu
trumpeter. A banderillero flashes his scarle
cloak at the wild bull within his dark pen
For an instant there is heard threatening
roar. Another flash of the hated scarlet anc
twelve thousand are upon their feet breath
less. The challenge is accepted with rush
The man will be killed instantly, you feel
with your heart in your throat. So quickl.
that your eye can scarcely compass it tn
splendid animal has cleared the toril, has hat
two ribbon bedecked banderillas plunged int
his shoulders by the banderillero who, quicl
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