Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-11-21
SPANISH BULL FIGHTS.
THE MEN WHO MAKE AMUSE-
MENT FOR THE SPANIARDS.
The spanIards VIII Never give Up the
Sport - Wealthy and Educated
aIen Among the Toreros-
Pets of the People.


in the year 1923 to his very good
lord Colchester, says:
There was great show lately
here OF batting Of bulls with men for
the entertainment Of the Prince (of
Wales); it is the chiefest OF all Spanish
sports; commonly there are men killed
at II, therefore there are priests APP
pointed 10 be there ready to confess
them. II hath happened oftentimes
that bull hath taken two men upon
his horns with their CUTS dangling
about them. The horsemen run with
lances and swords. the foot with goads.
As am told, the Pope hath sent divers
Bulls againt this sport of bulling. yet
il will not be left the nation hath
taken such an habitual delight in it,
Yes. nothing can mako the Spaniards
give up bulling. ! was at Garanda
the other year when a great hurricane
swept away the upper part of the bull
ring, says Theodore Child in Harpers
Weekly. A municipal meeting was
held shortly afterwards, and the
mayor. being man of progress. pro-
posed that some money should be spent
on repairing and improving the roads.
and thereby rendering the city more
agreeable TO visitors. mo! no! First
Of all let us rebuild the bull-ring"
cried the majority. ia Plaza! la
Plaza And the money was voted at
once.
Never have there been more bull
rings in Spain than at the present day.
never more toreros, and never has the
breeding of wild bulls. toros brdUOs,
been more extensive and systematic
In Seville the great school of bull
| fighting, almost half the young male
population seems to consist of appren-
ice chuios and picGdores. In Madrid
from early morning until late at night
the Puerta del Sol is dotted with loun-
ging groups Of young and old bull
fighters, while the cafes are full
Of amateurs OF the sport dfctonddoS,
whose great Joy in life is TO have
the honor of the acquaintance of
Angel Pastor Mazzantini. Lagar-
tito. and other celebrities Of the nlu-
lrtd, or OF the pike. All this is
very human and very comprehensive.
The toreros. or bull-fghters, possess
the prestige OF men who have no fear
Of danger or of DEATH they are, furth-
ermore. public characters like actors:
their existence is purely ornamental,
they are the living toys. the pets, the
spoiled children. OF the public; they
inspire respect by their courage, cur
losity by their strange gladiatorial oc-
cupation. admiration by their physique
4 md l.,. EsV 4
vanity which generally characterize
their mental condition. The torero is
as rule, a charming creature, he is
satisfied with himself and with the
world; he is well-to-do and often rich.
be is brave strong. and healthy; he
lives in an atmosphere of applause and
appreciation; he commands the smiles
OF ladies Of high and OF low degree. he
is temperate in his habits and conse-
quently OF eouable humor. his suavity.
in short is unsurpassable Bull-fght-
ing, indeed. is one OF the finest careers
IN modern Spain. Mazzantini. the
gentleman" torcro, an educated and
most intelligent man. who used to be
station-master and who has since
turned the heads OF society ladies in
Paris. told the late King Alfonso that
he took TO the ring because he became
convinced that in Spain there are but
) three quick roads TO wealth and popu.
, larity namely politics, the highway,
and the bull-ring.
When / first saw a group of bull.
| fighters lounging on the corner Of tn,
: Puerta del Sol, beside the dainty bras:
: stand of the water-seller | was deeply
| impressed. The fiat-hrimmed gray OF
. black felt hat planted jauntily on one
side, with the pigtail tucked in at Tho
/. back. leaving a queer little patch OF
the occiput where the upturned hail
leaves the skin bare, the cleau-shaver
! white faces OF a rich paleness like tn,
! flesh of Titian's nudes; the dainty
shirts with narrow band around tn,
a neck fastened by an elaborate buckle
the discreet diamonds and jewels il
the immaculate shirt front; the shor
! jacket sometimes decorated with tag
4 and brandebourgs, the pockets Gu
Q crosswise and lined with the fiamin,
!, red or blue; the open waistcoat, tn
Y light striped trousers fitting yer,
J. tightly, the fine shoes; the genera
). spruceness OF aspect; the perfec
$ self-possession, and the athleti
| bearing of these men pleased m
!, at once. On the Puerta del Sol, in tn
y Cafe de las Columnas and in tn
y Cafe Suizo at Seville | have spen
! hours and days watching them, talk
! ing with them, listening to them, an
! marvelling at their innocence and sim
!, plicity. have been with them {
= their cock-iights; taken part in subul
q ban picnics where each mqio had hi
h moja; have had the honor of dinin
Il with Angel Pastor in his own house
and of hearing his daughter play tn
piano, which, in its way, is equivaler
TO dining with Adelina Patti and hear
= ing Nicolini sing song at dessert
IS man cannot desire more.
J. The Spanish torero is something b,
/ =. & - a. l.