Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-02
rHr pYruvOND DIspATCH--SUNDAY, NOVEMBER q 1890

lOOOs
butcher gives him q stroke 20 the brain
with short pike, which kills nun IN
stantly; team of gsyly-decorsted mules
drag him of the scene ct long sshop'
and he is at once prepared Tor porter,
house steak to adorn the Monday meal
OF the missionary. This is repeated TIL
the advertised number OF bulls has been
dispatched. and then the crowd disperses
to gather again on the next Sunday alter
noon.
A MEXICAN FIGHTER.
The greet majority Of the men IN tho
profession here are Spsniards, but one
Of the natives has achieved great ceie-
brity here as well as in Europe. We AL
lude Of course to Ponciano Diaz. who
was born on hacienda IN the State OF
Mexico near the city. Ii is worthy OF
note that this same hdcssnda OF Atenco,
on which Poncisno first saw the light,
now furnishes the finest fighting bulls IN
| the republic. This king of Mexican
/ SpQd0s is not only master OF his
chosen profession, but is also highly
educated gentleman. He is rich, though
born poor. and owns one OF the finest
private libraries in the country. Ne IS
a noble-looking fellow and the idol Of q
large number Of his countrymen. A
native journal said of him not long
/ since:
"Should some day a man be required
to fill the archiepiscopal see ut Mexico
and the buD-fght-going people be called
TO elect man for the place, Ponciano
would be the man.
"Should a presidential election be left
TO the will Of the masses enthusiastically
patronizing the popular sport, Ponciano
would be the president.
"Should il ever come 10 the point Of
abolishing the republican system Of gov
eminent IN Mexico and creating q mon
archy instead, we would see thousands
of the young ndfqd0r's admirers propose
the name Of Ponciano the First for the
Mexican throne"
Theophile Gautier was not far from
right when he said, "a good bull-fght
is better than all of Shakespeare S
plays" or as recently-arriyed Rich
monder says, "Gt is the most intensely
exciting thing ever saw, and horse
racing Is nowhere."
A PROFITABLE BUSINESS.
The business OF bull-fghting is a
| profitable one when q man Is not killed
or crippled too early in life. The men
who get tho smallest pay receive not less
| than $40 for a single evening work, and
the priDlerG Spdid frequently earns
$500 in two or three hours. To this
may loo added tho sums of money fire.
quently thrown into the ring by enthu'
siastic admirers when some particularly
good work il done. The managers pay,
| besides, heavy tax to the Government
so that with Atsnco bulls which cost moi
less thsn $3.50 each. the cOrrida is at
tended with considerable expense. The
admission is from % to 70 cents FOL
seats on the sunny side, and from 81 tc
80 in tho shade. The suits worn by the
men in these fights are picturesque anc
| gaudy. aud being covered with gold anc
silver-braid and bangles, cost from SZOl
to $1,000.
One OF the best-lnovn faces on on
streets to-day is that OF Honorio home
no :" II ArfiilerO." lie il n native o.
Hispania, and five or years ago work
ed regularly and with success as % mdtd
dor or spcaa, but one day be displayed
some cowardice in the ring and was a
once by order of the Judge retired from
the profession. His cue-a badge worr
by all who have passed their apprentice
ship in the business was cut of IN tn
ring before the crowd, and his career q
7oyero WAS ended then and there
With the money at once contributed b,
sympathizing friends he started a bar
ber-ahop, ard to-day is doing a larg
business, his place being headquarters
for bull-Gghtiug people md sports gene
rally. He is a GENIAL old soul and al
ways has q joke ready for his customers
while his "reminiscences of the rim
would fill a big book.