Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-10-30
Valley News.
oUr.E so, 1901
IIEXICAN BULL lsIGll'r.
Emile Low in Eichland J News.

the chlet and n.aln amusement o.
the Mexican, like that of bis illustri
GUS ancestor, the Spaniard, is the
ball fight.
They are, however, not of sucl
frequent occurrence as Formerly, be
lug at this time subject TO special
laws, and are not allowed to take
place except by permission from the
proper authorities, under whose aus
pices they are held.
They are always held Oh Sunday
afternoons, the opening of the sea-
son being usually inaugnrated on
~ u S'c,lay, in homo. of the clos
ing II Lelss, which latter is religious.
ly observed by the Mexican, like the
good Catholic, which he is.
The advent Of tho bull fight is
duly heialded by flaming posters, an
nouncing the date and place, aud are
read and gazed upon with the same
iEterest,as That of the average Amer.
lean, When feasting his eyes upon
the bills, stating that the "irentest
Show on Earth" will soon honor his
native town with its unparalleled at.
fractions.
The posters advertising tho COM
ing bull fight are generally worded
IN tho most extravagant language, in
which the management, which has
charge OF them, Informs the indulg.
ent public, that, having in times
past, used their best efforts to make
their performances satisfactory to
them, they will ut the coming ores
do all i'll their power to retain their
reputation, and that the management
wal! not spare expenditures OF any
knd' AMI will choose with scrupulous
care, tho best bulls, which cnn he re.
hed upon rs the finest ones to be Oh.
tanned, and raised especially for the
Forthcoming sport.
Tho bull fight takes place in an
amphitheater, built for the purpose
The arena is about seventy five feet
IN diameter, and its floor is the na-
tura' ground. Surrounding the arena
is wall about ets'st feet high. In3
aSEsroe of the amphitbeaters there is n
fence just inside. OF this wall, Which
gtvaa an anhular space surrounding
faesrena, into which the bull fight
ss alte%s when too closely pressed 10Y
tnel9,dls. In others GGero afe the
SO chl}pd d,vl'do'cs, mn arrangement
inade@sf heavy plassks absxt eight
feet asquare, and plaead abeut two
feat t, en- the walls of the ARENA
Abotst dozen of thee are placed at
'sHgeiGr intervals and serve az places
lbfFefuge in case of ton close pur
4sifit. Surrounding the arena are the
seats, gradually rising higher ami
higher; the last row being surround
eed by wide aisle. The umphithea
ter is open ard without roof, c, :
cepting some of the top rows ST
seats and the aisle just mentions ID.
Various rntes Of admission are ely: .ry
ed, depending on the location, t. lose
an the shade commanding the best
prices. Children and solde "a are
charged half rates. Tho srform.
-ances are always largely attended,
usually by motley, nois, crowd
An excellent brass beJ j is at hand,
filing the mir with core I'd of sweet
sounds, to keep the s. ,cclators in
good huinor, awaiting % beginning
of the sport. Tho advertised hour
for the same having arrived. the gov
eminent official, under whose djrec.
ton the performance takes place,
makes lis appearance, and is greeted
with loud applause, to which he bows
his Acknowledgements and takes his
seat. Alta given signal from this
gentleman. the band strikes up, aud
to the blaring and noise of the music
the bull fighters stately file into the
ring. They consist of about ten
footmen, gaily dressed in uniforms
OF very gaudy oolors and carrying
espes OF bright and variogated hues.
Besides the footnen, there are mum
Der OF horsemen, similarly attired,
being armed with wooden spears
having sharp iron point ut one end
SAfter saluting, the audience they as
sumo various positions in the arena
Suddenly door, exactly opposite
the one by whic;, the bull fighters
ho6 anfAraI -