The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-25
srAIy,s FAMOUS BULL FIGHTER.
Rafael MoIina, Called LaRarttie, the Retired
Monarch OF the Bull King.

Rafael Aoiinn, Called bnrnrt1o, the Betireo
Monarch OF the Bull Ring.
LONDON June 14-Thero are heroes OF
evory size and degree. hut as soon as a man
has been raised to q pedestal above his fellow
creatures. 1t matters little that his grade be
high or low. he at once becomes OF Immense
magnitude to the worshippers, and their num-
Der and quality do not detract or add to tho
stature OF tho idol they have erected. No
general. statesman or king has perhaps
known the thorough intoxicaton Of trlum phi
and popularity as entirely as princes OF tho
bull-nghts and among them the Toreador
LagartiIo. who, the other day. took his fare
well OF the arena at Madrid in q final per-
formance Fourteen thousand spectators
greet ed him with laundering applause; every
scat was sold at au exorbitant fancy price; he
received $1,000 for the DAY. plus half the re-
ceipts, Am ountinR for his share to $4,000 more.
and ho killed In succession six Of the ilercost
bulls obtaineble.
"Lagartijo" Is only the surname which the
espadas always receive IN Spain; his real
name Is Rafael Molina. and he was vnriously
and aflectionately called upon as Rafael or Cor
doba from the crowded benches of the Plaza
de Toros as soon as he made his appearance
there. Molina. lik e the most famous toreadors.
Is n son OF the people; he was born at Cordoba,
and his parents were common laborcrs. al
though his father was at one time u butcher in
the town. lie has q restricted command OF Ian
gunge. talks little. and generally in preg-
nGut sort OF slang. and can sign his own name
with difficulty. Ho Is withal u thoroughly
good fellow and an excellent comrade; he Is
by nature self-contnined, reticent and OF u
dreamy temperament. He graduated for his
profession at all the corridas OF Spain. and at
the early age Of began to be spoken OF for
his extraordinary courage.
Lagartijo was born in lS41 and still looks
young. His complexion is OF n healthy gypsy
brown hue: his eyes are deep and soft. and
his face distinctly sympathetic; but his char
acteristic trait Is an exquisite native elegance
OF form and figure. differing entirely from
other celebrated espadas. who. supple and
1.-THE as they are bound to be. are often thick
set like Cuchares. rough and SNOWY like
Frascuelo. or pretentious Ike Mazzantini.
Rafael Molina unconsciously, without afrecta-
ton. has at all times an artistic. plastic atti-
Whether he. waves his rapa or walks ercc.
with the slight otion OF his hips. whether he
snd At rsS '1S ON his over hs
Of she pure spanish tyne Of Andausia, 49,.
been and perhaps was the hero q many hirta-
tions and love affairs, yet his devotion to his
he prod 81 rs lie IS aeeSSs to
him, tn. happicst he ever knew. .Horr, death
plunged him into violent despair Tho fu,
lie subject Of IA baiiad which is still sung by
the peoplc in the streets and squares, and
ceremony 1t begins with the following verse:
"Eld de San Antonio
Flu 10 que tuvo que yer
Lasaftijo sI su mu iia
In the last lines Of the poem Rafael is made
to say to himself: My pearl has isapDeared,
ovsl has s SsPh for hsy Pas left
foundation OF his fame ,some thirty years ago
dates the riva ~ between him and Frasoueio.
The superiority IN tsuromacha was claimed
was divided Into two immenss factions OK
tolllnE the merits Of the two .espadas; La:
Pre- ad1fa the sshoo prsoand and
Tsauirsds te note the difference between the
in 1866 Lacartijo appeared for the first time
bsi ~ Madr en- public and ashieyed the aim
az s VaSs sssse H. h"s 1!
over 2 600 bulls been wounded ise1HosPtly and
M fs ean tell IL Sss 81 hs
Whe s death IS eon|ronted daily senerosty and
ever. prodigality arc common qualities, La;
had Sa to Rp as he dH
p ths e thi9sy q ses o arg
ttons. lie intends to spend tho remainder Of his
daSs I'm IN ms h native province breeding bulls 9r
ss the y sesy ss
olIering to his patron saint. Rafael;
The existene &c Of popular espsda Is not nn,
ing ing at The toWn o. village Where the corPida
and starts at once for ne next city on tho
tHutr HIS Iuggsgs Is not 80 cp I1,1 me as
81 ons two as
pounds take ' up i' but little room. But he Is
his cuadriIls. which consists of four 6a H
rilleros. two picaderos. puntillero. and two or
he knows and who Know Ills methods. in order
to minimize the deadly peril he has TO face
Nh tbs pap.
engaged at the price Of $500 for each per-
The vanity, Of famous espada is necessarily
ate5ed and t9stered by the adul hi Of the
not an empty seat In tho q, VI vast amphitheatre:
people have been known to sell their beds and
clothes for the Price Of A. soon A.
deafening appla use receive him. and at every
fresh prowcss or act of daring and temerlty
kerchiofs and even cigars and money are
thrown to him in the arena;
Toreros Of note make rapid fortunes; and asa
is an excertipn; his passionate love Of home
extravaganza. lie has no hildren. and
" vii never MARI aEain His brother Juan
is bandcrillero. one of tho best in Spain. but
he has not Joined Lagartii"s cuadria.
When the senson ~ bull lights was over. La
CART iiu used to return to his Curdobn property |
I" ENJOY tho pleasures Of shooting, Of WHICH he
hayo n! leisure 10 devote. himself. There the
invlncibls and naive instincts, Of ostentation
Inherent to the torSro showed themselves in his |
grand aud mnjestih way Of receiving his guests |
and in the display of gorgeous jewelry In the |
shape 81 prodlgions rings and diamond studs |
In his finely omoroidered cambria shir. fronts. |
The aiyantagrs Of lagartijo over ErAscueIo'
glance and wrist and knowledge Of his art.
supported by long experience. which has stood !
him IN good help, Tor during the last eighteen |
years he was wounded only twice while his |
odc'o"adgs o. the arena are UNANIMOUS in de-
claring that there was less risk OF an abrupt |
termination Of tho exploits Of the chief es padR