Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1889-12-28
Brilliant Description Of 4 Bull
Fight.

Eight bulls had been announced
10 appear, and it was, | believe. the
last sunday Of the season. The
spectacle was a brilliant one; the
King, the Queen and the lnfantl
were all in their places. There were
music ami sunshine, wild cries.
stamping OF the feet, and kisses;
handkerchiefs were waived, hats
thrown in the air. The spectacle is
a unique one of OveTpOwering gran
deur. | began after a time TO enter
into the spirit Of the thing, and IL
take an interest in what was going
on, though l had gone there agains,
my inclinatiOus, and with 4 shud-
der Of disgust. In full view Of this
butchery, carried on with the ut,
most refinement OF cruelty, | was
allie TO maintain a tranquil air, sus,
tanned by my pride. l did not once
turn my eyes away. One leaves the
scene slightly intoxicated with
blood, 50 to say, and feeling 4 desire
to thrust = lance into the neck OF
every chance person one meets.
stuck my Knife into the melon |
was cutting at table, as If il We're a
SdndeiN0 / Were planting in the
side Of n bull; and the pulp seemed
like the palpitating flesh Of the
wounded animal. The sight Is one
that makes the knees tremble and
the head thnOb. 1t Is a lesson in
murder. Yet these men are elegant
and graceful, and Notwithstanding
their extreme agility their move
ments are dignified and noble.
Some people regard this duel be-
tween man and brute. in which the
latter seems TO have so much the adj
vantage, both in size and strength,
over the former, As a noble specta-
Gle; but can il with truth be called q
duel. whenOne knows from the first
which OF the combatauts il is that
must succumb? / viii confess
that there is something TO CAP
tivate the imagination in the
sight Of the mdtddsT, with his
brilliant costume that displays the
graceful contours Of his figure, rs
he places himself, after thrice sahIt-
ing the spectators, just in front OF
tine animal, and stands calm and
self-possessed, his cloak on his arm,
his sword in his hand. And this is
the best part Of the performance. for
so far there is scarcely any blood
shed. AS for the suilerings OF the
horses, the Spaniards themselves DO
not like that part Of it. Have I be-
come recOnciled, then, TO this bar
barous amusement? / do not say
that, but it has its grand, almost
heroic, side. In this amphitheatre
with its fourteen or fifteen thousand
spectators. We seem to catch n
glimpse Of antiquity-that antiquity
| so much admire. But on the
other hand it has also its Sanguin-
airy, its horrible, its ignOble side.
II the men who engage in it
were less skilful; If they were more
often to receive n serious wound or
two, l should say nothing. But
what revolts me in IL Is this exhibit
ton Of human cOwaTdice. Yet is
said the profession Of 4 mdtad0T
requires the courage Of a lion. / do
not think so. These men know very
well how TO avoid the attacks Of the
brute, terrible 1t is true, but attacks
which they themselves have
provoked, and which they are pre-
pared for. The real danger is in the
case Of the 6dRdeTilerO, where the
man invites the attack Of the ami
NAL, and just rs the latter is about
TO transfix him with his horns, an
ticipates him by planting his ban
derIHds between the shoulders Of the
brute. For this, exceptional courage
and skill are required.-fT0m the
bHaQlo Of Marie BdsIirssF (C1s-
sell d Company, NesG York,