Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-02
TAUROMACHY.
6utL-FloHTlNG AS IT WAS AND IS To-
DAY IN MEXICO.
Royal Rulers who wer, Expert IN the FL
citing Sport-Deseriptiou OF
Modern Exhibition.
Lcorra,ponasneo Of tho Rlchunona DlsDatcii !

Modern Exhibition.
tcorrospondsnco Of the Richmond Dispatch !
CRY or MEXICO, October, 1890.
The average citizen of the United
States knows just as much about the
sport which may justly be called the ma.
tional one Of the great republic separated
from you ouly by the rolling Rio Grande
as did the mighty Montezuma or the gol-
liant Guantemoc Of progressive euchre
or the Mckinley bill. Impressions de-
rived from the letters OF tourists who see
only one or artists, like Nelly Bly,, who
| know how 70 write q book of 300 or 800
pages without letting a single true state
me1t slip between its covers are abso-
lutey worthless. II is NOT the purpose
Of tho writer 10 defend or abuse the sport
OF the thousands Of people who patron
izo and engage in It. First We viii give
a little information "a to bull-fighting
in carly DAYS, which any Of your readers
might have gotten just as well If they
took the trouble TO look mp old books on
tie early history of the European PENN
sula.
BULL-FIGHrING By THE NOBILITY.
II ve can credit certain documents Of
the tenth century, Spanish cavalier,
during the long periods Of peace which
marked the reigns of tho Csliphs ABIDE
ram III. and Hakem II. were often to
be seen in the arena with Moorish chiefs
and contending with these latter for tho
prizes. Certain it is that bull-fighting
was introduced among the nobility Of
Spain about the time OF the Moorish in-
vasiOn and held popular sway among
them till after the Bourbon accession in
the year 1870. We need mention only
few names which will forever shine in
the records Of tauromachy TO show the ar
dor with which for several centuries the
Castilian nobility sought honor and re-
nown in these heroic combats : First
tho Kings Carlos V. and Philip Nv. then
the Dukes Of Medina, Sidonia, Fsrate,
Biano, Ssstagato the Counts Buelma,
VIllAmediana, Icndilla, La Yena, and
the Knights MarriQue DO Lara, Ramirez
de Haro, Juan Chacon, Yelsda, Fer
nando dc Pizzaro, the conqueror OF
Peru. So, SC. The decline of the sport
among the nobility is ascribcd TO the In
fuence exercised over Madrid society by
the Bourbon court. U1acquainted with
| tho bloody sports and wsrlike manners
Of the spanish aTistocracy, the reignlng
| family from the moment OF their access
sion began 10 discredit and discourage
sport they pronounced brutal, and from
/ that time on its participation in by those
Of noble name and blood diminished
rapidly.
POPULAR DULL-FTGHuNG.
Towards the close of the eighteenth
century what may be termed popular
bun-fghting, under prescribed rules,
each man being paid and having a stated
part to perform, was introduced by a
| young iorsyo named Pedro Romero.
His code il still in vogue ~ both this
country and Spain with trifing modid-
cations. These rules are comprehensive
aud latitudinous and are enforced here
with the samo rigidity as the laws Of the
republic or any OF the edcts of the
President thereof, Don PoriiriO DIaz.
The bull-nghts of to-day are held in
this city ia three great PLACES or amphi-
theatres. which are Of wood aud will seat
from 1000 10 20, 600 persons The fight IS
Notwithstanding guidance and control
Of Ri Presidepfs (who occupies somewhat
the position OF an umpire in base ball
game, and who according TO law must be
selected from the city ccuncImen). lie
saws when one branch Of the fight shall
lie discontinued and another begun
and his command is supreme, the III
fraction Of his orders being punishable
by heavy fine and Imprisonment till the
money is paid. By all odds tho most
popular and frequontly-seen judge OF
| these contests in the capital to-day is
Senior Don Ignacio do lie Tore, the
handsome and accomplished son-in-law
of President Diaz. His frequent APP
pearance in this capacity, compiled with
! his social standing and weIl-known repu-
tation as a heightened gentleman, IS IN
itself a powerful refutation Of the state
ment so frequently made by Americans,
who know nothing OF the subject, that
sthe better class OF Mexicans do not at
tend or encourage those spectaoles.'
TuE MODUS OPEEAED..
In an ordinary Sight six bulls are kill
ed and the cuGdritia or team consists OF
eight or ten men, unless for special
reasons the law lix0s FIVE as the mini
mum number of bulls. The Pres'dente
is seated in a box and gives his direction
through trInnpetor. At the call of the
buOle the team enter the ring, all to-
Qether. their eaudy uniform of gold and
silver sparkling and flashing in the sun
light, making o beautiful sight They
salute the Pres,ddHfs And the people and
at once take their positions, the
band mean time playing a lively air.
They are greeted with traUOs and other
shouts OF applause as they toss tnelI
outer capes 10 their respective partlsans
in the front seats. And now all interest
centres around the gate from which the
bull enters at the sound Of the bugle foi
the second time. Coming out OF dark
place suddenly to the light, surrounded
by mass OF bowling humanity and
smarting from a barbed iron which ii
thrust into his back just as he enters the
ring, the toyO runs around the ring IN az
aimless fashion ike q demon whose reason
had been dethronod 10y drink. But the
men with their scarlet cloths soon at
tract his attention, and no gives them
many iruisless chase. The first men
10 attack him, or rather urge his attack
: upon them, are mounted on = horses
and arc called ptcaaorcs. They are
armed with lances, pointed with sharp
ened irons, and as the bull makes hi;
deadly chsrges upon the horse (to whom
death is a precious boom they stick hlM
With the lance aud keep him oil as best
they can. Ia this way We have seen five
or six horses sent to the happy land by q
single bul:
THE BAEDERILLEROS.
When Mr.. Presidente tires OF this
. ltF.n a n n