The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-08

is a mere red rag 10 a bull that has fed
all his life in the coolest pastures upon
the sweetest grass. He has lived COM
fortably. Why not let we'll enough alone?
He turns his head, shifts at the ground
and walks away.
The picadors enter. They are three
with sharp spears. The bull sees them.
one rides up 10 him and. quick as light
ming, quicker than a bulls thought.
spear is thrust into the thick neck. 1t
is meant 10 tease the skin. 1t accom-
plishes its purpose. II scratches the bull.
IL tingles him. S-lu-sh, an indescribable
sound, And another spear has slit the
neck The bull dashes forward this time
he reaches his tormentor and horns
him. Horse and rider are lifted into
the air and tossed. and when the
plunging bull brings his swaying horns
10 level again they are tied fast-twisted
with the entrails Of the horse. The plea
dor has escaped. His companions res
cued him as he slid from his horses
back just a second the safe side of the
cut.
The other pcadors ride up. They have
each to place spear in the thick neck.
IL is like dressing the bull for a procession
so gay are the ribbons OF the spears. And
the bull fights back Ike child that hates
its festival dress. The picadors hide them
selves behind their horses as they ride
up. They draw up their legs, they slide
low in the saddles. They lift the belly
Of the poor beast TO the bulls horns; and
the bull frantic for another smell Of the
blood, rips 1t open with lowered head.
Each time he lifts his head there is an
other spear sticking I'm his thick skin.
An, the torture Of it, The blood Of the
split horses cools the smart a little. But
50 little. Even the sanorita in the box
feels the smart. for she finds a red berry
and presses It 70 her hurt lips
THE MATADoB.
The last spear is set. the ribbons gayly
wave the picadors ride away The bull
stands, plunging. alone. No, What is
that? a single figure stands In the gate
way of the arena. 1t is the matador One
man alone, armed with single smear
and dressed like a gallant boy at a mas
querade. The bull looks at those white
silk legs and shifts CONTEMPORARY. He
chances not twice at the gaudy gold and
blue knee-breeches. But the waistcoat
is red and spangled. and that maddens
him little. He trots across to the gay
little ulatador and his light little steel.
One tramp OF one hoof will kill him. But
the ma tabor has his own line OF reason
ing.
He steps squarely out TO meet the bull
He lodges him. Then across to the Pres
dents box he runs.
with your approval and Gods help.
will Kill the buli," lie shouts. The Pres
ident applauds. The matador turns, and
the bull is upon him.
Yet not quite. He has met him half
way with a long, 1.-THE jump. The little
spear has pointed itself downward be-
tween the horns and left shoulder and
lightly enters the neck. The matador
Jumps up in the air again and again.
lie is burying the spear and keeping
clear OF the swaying horns. He is a true
matador. He has found the heart the
first time. The bull is growing white at
the tongue and red at the eyes. Slowly
he is settling down. Backward he squirms
then down, down.
The matador places his foot upon him.
The crowd cheer. The ladies cry Bravo
The President throws his box of cigars,
flowers come tumbling down. and the
bul-hght Is ended. But the crowd con-
tinues to cheer even after the oxen have
drawn the bull away, and the senorita
with the strawberries gathers UP the
scattered handfuls and pours them down
One hits the matador full upon the heart.
The juice makes a spattered stain above
a red squirt from. the bulls lungs. How
beautiful The senofita claps her hands.
and the matador presses his lips TO the
stain and bows to the very ground. He
whom the bull could not bend is conquer
ed by one ripe berry. The crowds go
home.
sPASuH FLOOD IN ATLANTA.
Atlanta. that city Of cool. soft heishts,
Will know the bull-nghG Tho coming
matador u man 20 skiiful that he win
kill with one thrust The picadors ere
"a quick on their sest thai TIE horses-