Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-06-27
KING OF BULL FIGHTERS.
Story of Mazzantini, the Famous
Spanish Matador.

Don Luis Mazzantini, who has been
sent to the Paris Exposition by the
Spanish Government to show Parisians
how to fight bulls, is the king of mata-
dors. Several years ago he was Gov
ernment officer in the Spanish telegraph
ic service. He received good salary,
rs salaries in Spain go, and was alto
gether as prosperous and influential as
an untitled Spaniard could hope to be.
He had n morbid desire for notoriety,
however, and gave up his job under the
Government to join an opera company.
He sang III light opera with fair success
for year. Then he quit the stage, be-
cause musicians told him he could never
become great artist, and took lessons
in bull fighting. His family considered
him disgraced, and all but disowned
him, for from official life to bull pit is
n Tremendous distance down hill, in
Spanish opinion The bull fighters are
usually men of the same education and
social standing in Spain as the horse
jockeys i'll America. The son of bull
fighter generally follows his fathers vo-
cation, because in any other calling his
fathers reputation would be something
of reproach to him and an obstacle
to success. The bull fighters in the big
| Spanish towns are known mostly by
their nicknames only. The death of
skillful bull fighter is lamented princi-
pally because his skill in the bull pit
dies with him.
NIazzantini thought he could rise
above most of these disadvantages Of
his new business, and be did it with un-
precedented rapidly young Span
lard, who wishes 10 become n buu
fighter. serves an apprenticeship in the
ranks of the picndures and bonderilleros,
who prepare the bull for the fight by
pricking him with darts md waving
flags before him. before appearing as a
full ll-tledged matador or Killer of the bull.
Mazzantini served no such apprentice
ship. After taking a few private lessons
he made his debut as matador. Every
one laughed at him at first. He was
ridiculed as the clown of the bull pit,
and got nicknames enough for n dozen
bull fighters. Once he was so severely
gored by bull that it was thought he
was dying. AS soon as he recovered he
was again III the ring, rs plucky and
persistent as ever. His grit won him
favor. His popularity increased with
his increasing practice and skill. Event
ually he got all the applause and fame
and money which he had despaired of
getting rs n government official or light
tenor. He became the greatest bull
fighter in the world. The people of
Madrid even ceased to call him names.
He is now mentioned in the Spanish
capital only rs Don Luis
The management of the bull fights, in
which Mazzautini will appear in Paris,
has been intrusted by the Spanish Gov
eminent to Count de la Patina and the
Duke of Yeragua. The Count raises
the finest bulls in Spain. His animals
are exported to all the cities Of Smth
America and Mexico in which bull
lighting takes place. The Madrid dailiea
are urging the two noblemen lu rhrgc
TO petition the French Ministry 10 ALLOW
Maazantini to kill the bull at the endol
each of his fights in Paris. Tho present
regulations Of the French Government
require that the fights shall be hi0od,ess