Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-28

| reached a stage where waiting can no
longer be tolerated. If the tension is
: not relaxed hysterla will be the outcome
| The waiting musicians get their cue and
| the band strikes up the tune that always
| precedes the bulls entrance
From somewhere comes the big bull
entering the arena to the accompaniment
of a thunderous round OF applause, In
comparison with which that extended TO
| the men was an ordinary cheer. The
difference between the effect OF applause
on the fighters and on the bull is that,
while 1t tickled the vanity Of the former,
II makes the latter mad with rage. The
big animal seems to know instinctively
that the roar OF voices and the clash Of
music come not from friends Of his. He
stands in the arena with glowing eyeballs,
lowered horns, stamping hoofs, and with
every nerve and muscle aquiver with re-
sentiment He Is a fighter, for the
French, when they develop a craze de-
velop 1t thoroughly, and no weakened
bag Of bones will do for them. The best
of the bull family must be provided,
and they are quite willing to pay for it,
II II comes high.
Suddenly the bull ceases TO glare and
stamp and culver and with fierce snort
he dashes at one of the occupants Of the
arena, amid a suppressed murmur that
sounds as though every Frenchwoman in
the audience had caught her breath ana
choked off an exclamation Of fright, The
Spanish women, IT may be remarked, give
way TO no such weakness at bull lights.
The battle has begun. The lowered horns
meet only the empty atmosphere. Inc
enemy has lodged nimbly away, and the
bull stands amazed and angry with blood
trucking from a wound IN his flank wnere
a ribbOn-covered arrow has been
adrotly thrust.
Thoroughly aroused by the pain the
bull dashes at the horses again, only to
find that his horns strike the air once
more. while blood flows from additional
wounds made by the cruel little arrows.
A picador misjuGges the distance by
small margin and the bull scores, driving
his horns deep into the horses tanks,
with a grunt OF satisfaction at finding
flesh and blood to gore Blood Is flowing
freely now, and the slaughter-nouse
ASPECT Of the arena has to be modified pS
the wholesale bestrewing OF stra" On
the Redeemed ground The bull -,ean
while has been charging madly around
and has received cruel thrusts from tie
spears of the picadors. His wounds are
stuffed with straw, and he is whipped 10
his feet, and goaded to fight again. Game
to the last, he makes final charge, with
the blood flowing from his wounds, ard
sinks down TO die before reaching the
waiting weapon Of the bull fighter.
The responsiveness Of the sight no
words can describe, and yet the women
OF France seem to be delighted with II.
Instead OF falnting at the hideous spec
tacle OF the brave bulls death, they cry
for more, and the next bull ID admitted
to the arena amid the same buzz OF ex-
element, to DO slaughtered like his
predecessor.
The queerest part of the whole sSy
comes at the last, when the BE
gravely enter tho arena, having first
been willing and highly entertained wit
nesses OF the unlawful show. and pro-
coed to serve the matadors with papers,
summoning them to appear in court and
answer to the charge OF bull-kilins. Inc
matador appears, is fined, pays his
fine from the liberal gate receipts, and
goes on his blood-stained way with per-
feet satisfaction to every one concerned.
II the law can be so readily violated
I'm Roubaix II can be violated In Paris
and the men who are ever on the watcn
for a diversion that will catch the popu-
lar fancy are already figuring on the
possibility OF introducing the noble sport
OF bull-fghting into the French capital
The only way in which the horrible eA-
hibition can be shut out OF Paris Is by
a special act OF the Legislature, and
this. In the face of the peoples VIII, is
not likely TO be- passed. or even intro
duced.
There is little doubt, therefore, that
next seasons visitors TO Europe VIII
have an opportunity Of seeing genuine
buli-hght without going TO hostile spain
that is, IL the sport does not reach
America before the winter Is over, as
seems to be extremely probable.