Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-08

peculiar to themselves. They play at bull- fighting because 1t is the ambition of every Mexican boy to be a bull fighter.
 In mimic play they use their shawis as banderas, use sticks as bikes and a flat piece Of wood as a sword. One boy acts as the bull, and the others act the part of the pieadores, banderilleros and mata- dores.
 When they grow older they participate in real bull fights, but of an amateur kind. Bulls are used, but of the common breed. and as an additional precautlon, their horns are sawed off.
 The boys, dressed in all the finery of a professional matadore, enter the ring, tease the bull and carry out the regular programme in all save the killing of the hnli Of course, the bull sometimes kills the boy. but his parents regard him as having died like hero on the field of battle, and the wounded boys pa- rade their bruises and scars as proud mementoes of the fray.
 These amateur fights are considered great events in country towns, fully equal to the coming of the circus to an American village. All the young ladies, with their chaperones, are present, and of course every man and boy who can possibly get into the amphitheater Two or three of the young ladies are chosen as queens of the feast" and prom1- nent citizen is selected as master of the feast.
 When the bull is brought into the ring the fun begins. Usually he chaseS every one over the fence and cayorts around in high anger. Soon the fighters, with thelr scarlet green and yellow nantes, re- enter the ring and Haunt them in the race of the bull He is leased thus until the master of the feast blows the cornet. Then the picadors ride in, dressed in gay costumes, and the bull is leased into try ing to unseat them and kill the horses. IT the picadors are skillful, they Keep or the animal; if not, there is a dead horse and often an injured rider.
 Then the banderillos, or little spears. made in imitation of sombreros, ana other fantastic designs of varied coloreo paper or silk, are handed to the young man, who attempts to plunge them lil.o the shoulders of the bull. If he succeeds, he Is wildly cheered. This ends the nrst fight. The vaoueros come in and lasso the bull, take out the banderillos anu chase him out of the ring.
 The young fighters are then called oe- fore the queen and decorated with rfopoh sashes, which are placed over their rlgrl shoulders, and they strut about the ring until the cornet calls forth another ouii and the crowd joins in yelling otro toro' otro, toro!" (another bulb.
 The last bull, after going through the performance is thrown down. rope placed around him and peon TOT 70 cents rides the infuriated animal about the ring.
 Then comes the Yind-up. A half-tame bull, with padded horns, is turned loose in the ring, and every boy in the en- closure piles into the ring and waves ms serape at the bull, which chases them over the fence and about the ring madiy.
 The boys are now in their glory. They are teasing a real bull and may be hurt. Often one is trampled on and badly bruised by the bull The rest simply howl with delight. By this time the audience has departed. Everyone has had a chance to fight the bull. A ball at night ends the festivities.
 Such are opportunities offered the lads Of Mexico toward their cherished am bition to become fighters of bloeded bulls. R. J. Knorr in Golden Days.
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