Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-05


On page 2 Of this issue Of the Dispatch
w. w. wysor. Esq. contributes two
column letter descriptive OF buli-hght
In Spain. Mr.. wysor was at one time
clerk Of O committee Of the Virginia House
OF DELEGATES, and was afterwards con-
nected with the press In Lynchburg ana
Richmond. He Is a man OF nne sense
and II a close observer At present he
is IN the consular service Of our govern
ment. with headquarters at Cadiz.
Preventative as he Is. Mr.. Wysor seems
to be unable to understand how Spaniards
can countenancs the brutal and debasing
sport which he describes. On the other
hand, he informs US that the spaniards
are at loss to imagine how We Ameri-
cans can take any pleasure In the prize
ring. or In chicken-fghts.
Our friend has no doubt found appro-
pirate language with which to draw the
distinction. In sunny Spain, for instance,
many-not all, but many-of the very best
people, ladies and gentlemen. find agreeable
sport in attending bull-fghts. In America
PfiEt-nbuAo 49, -
hibited by law. When held no ladies at
tend them, and, as a rule, not very many
gentlemen are present. The spectators
are usually coughs" 1t Is true, We are
bound to confess. that thousands OF per-
sons who would not like 70 be seen at a
prize-fght like to read good account
OF how each round was fought, and that
all newspapers give more or less space
TO such things.
We further admit that the interest oil
the public in great pugilistic battle
always runs high. Two years ago a
Cunarder left Liverpool with great
crowd OF passengers on board, most OF
whom had been driven home from the
Continent by the outbreak OF cholera
there. When they sot sail they knew not
but that upon arriving at New York they
might find the cholera as dreadful there
as It was at Hamburg or Havre. When
the pilot came aboard off Sandy Hook
! and crowds OF people nocked to the side
of the ship TO meet him, the one qIes'
ton that sprang TO nearly every lip wa
| not, rs there any cholera in New York?
but 'How did the Sulliyan-Mitchell figh'
turn out?" The answer was that Sulli'
van had won. And thereupon great
shout of joy went up.
This important information having beer
gotten. inquiry was next made as to th'
| cholera, when the passengers were told
| that five cholera-infected ships were II
! the lower bay, and that they would have
to 20 there, too. for temporary stay.
Our Spanish friends. of whom Mr.. wy
sor writes 50 well, would find 1t impossi
BILE To conceive how We Americans coult
| take any interest in the encounters Of
| trained rufiians, and really we are not SURE
| that we could explain 1t thoroughly; but NJ
| more could q Spaniard explain why h
likes a bull.hght
| About all that we can say In defence
| of our national shortcomings in this re
spect Is that our british sports are moi
| patronized by our genteel people. while
| bull lighting is patronIzed by gentee
Standards Ii seems to us that this II
| a radical difference. However. 1t may
appear otherwise 10 men who delight &c
see a bull reused to fury by arrows sho
into his side TO make him angry enough
10 fight. At any rate, Mr. Wysors lettel
IS interesting and we recommend oul
patrons to read it, II they would get a
true account of medieval bull-dghting II
the electric age.