Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-16

| other tOreadors were hofolnR o nttie
| reception, shaking hands with friends
! who congratulated and encouraged
them, and exhibiting their magni6cen,
costumes, covered with gold or silver
embroideries, to all corners.
Now" said my friend, ''let Us go to
the chapel"
THE chapel?"
"Why, yes, the next room is q small
chapel, where every toreador goes be-
! fore the fight to pray and ask God and
his patron saint that his life be spared,
and that he be given the. courage and
strength to take that of the bull"
We entered the small chapel, at one
| end OF witch was an altar covered with
flowers and lighted candles, in the mid
die q crucifix, and above q painting OF
the Virgin Mary.
Soon a toreador CANE in, and, kneel-
ing at the foot OF the altar, began to
pray. And, while watching this man
praying with fervor there before that
cross / began to think how badly re-
ligion is understood in many eases, and
hew many dreadful things are done ia
It's name, or under its cover, or at least
under it's sanction and protection.
COVERED WITH L AND GOLD.
What a contrast This man, covered
with silk and gold, kneeling in front
of the Christ, asking for the protection
| of the kind and sweet lover of humanity,
asking lin order to kilD the protection
of Him, to whom all lives are dear and
| preciousl
"You see tho man there kneeling and
praying?" said my friend. "Well, he is
Manual Garcia, generally called "Espsr'
tero." the greatest living toreado. lie
is the first espada Of Spain, and Is cele-
brated for his gseat courage. When he
sticks his sword in the BULBS neck he
never Jumps aside as other toreadors do;
no, he wants TO stop him, to kill him on
the spot. As 1t is nearly impossible,
he has often been wounded, and very
seriously, by dying bulls. He is only
tWenty-eight years old, and has already
saved over one hundred thousand
pesetas. He will retire from the ring h
rich man ia another year.
The man had finished praying. He
left the chapel shaking hands with his
friends, and l could not help thinking,
~''retire a rich man In one year, yes
provided"--But, l did not dare finish
my thought,e even to myself; and raising
my eyes from the gorgeousiy embroider-
ed coat to the cruciix, / murmured in
voluntarily, God spare him!"
The sound ef-a trumpet was heard
Announcing that il was time to begin,
and every one left the stables In a
hurry to go to their boxes and seats.
Yne immense arena was soon filled by
people belonging to overy class OF
society, from the poor fellow, who has
paid ten cents for his seat, and whose
children may not have even bread for
their supper that evening, to the high
officers, rich men and beautifully
dressed women, who have paid one
hundred pesetas for q box. Hardly a
woman was to be seen in the low priced
seats, while they were the majority 10
the bsst places. Nearly all OF them
wore a ''mantilla" OF lace instead OF a
bonnet, the lace in most cases being
white.
ENTER THE ToREADoRs.
Suddenly a band. composed OF the
DuDlIS Vi OI0 VI . oSAOOAo S1cN
10 play a march. One of the gates
leading into the ring was thrown open,
and amid music and cheers the torea-
doris made their entrance, the first,
second and third espadas walking first
on one line. Behind came those on
horseback, called picadores, and lastly
a large number of assistants whose duty
il is to keep the ring in order, to give
the coup de grace to the dying horses,
and to throw sand over the pools OF
blood.
The procession crossed the plaza, and
stopping just opposite the box occupied
by the President of the Feast (for they
call il a feast), they all saluted him, and
then those who were to take part In the
first fight remained, while the others
retired behind the fence which stands
between Tire ring and the first row OF
spectators. Only two mounted p%icadores
remained with the toreadors. No word
picture, / fear, would do justice to the
beauty Of the sight presented by the en-