Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-08-21
FACTS AND FANCIES
tcoNTrsuEp FROM SECOND PAGE

events described in 1t occurred during
the latter part of the Seven Years War
which England waged against France
and Spain. Cuba was also taken by
the English during that war. Both
Cuba and the Philippines, however,
were restored to Spain at the end of
the war; although immense conces-
sions of other territory were exacted
from both France and Spain.
History has repeated itself in the
present day in manner that shows
some remarkable points of similarity
with the conquest of century ago.
The Spanish Duke de Veragua, who
visited the United States during The
period of the Worlds Fair, was at one
time the principal owner of mag
nificent arena for bull fights in Paris.
During the residence of the philos
opher in Paris, several years ago, he
witnessed number of these fights,
which were extremely picturesque and
exciting.
The Gran Plaza de Toros. in which
the fights were held, consisted of an
immense amphitheater, having seat
ing capacity of nearly fifteen thousand
and being much finer in construction
than even those in Spain, the home of
the bull fight.
The laws of France required that
rubber knobs should be fastened to the
ends of the bufls horns, and also that
the horses ridden by the picadores
should be protected by shields of
leather. Notwithstanding these pre-
cautions, it was, even in the Partisan
sense, an exciting and dangerous sport
and accidents of serious nature Of
ten occurred. 1t was, doubtless, this
element Of danger that gave to these
exhibitions their fascinating character
for one could hardly fail to experience
thrill of intense excitement upon
seeing fierce Spanish bull rush wild
ly from its enclosure, tear snorting
and believing with rage across the
wide arena, lift a picadors horse high
in the air, and throw it with wicked
toss to the ground. Amid the blare
of trumpets and the cheers of the
crowd, the picadore, if unhurt, and
possessed of sufficient pluck, would re-
mount his horse and return to the
fight.
The matadores and banderilleros,
who fought on foot, performed some
very graceful feats with their bright
red capes and sharp short lances.
Sometimes these fellows would turn
somersets over the bull as it came
rushing at them again one would
place himself in chair and calmly
wait until the enraged animal was al
most upon hiu-then with a quick
leap to one side he would thrust a pair
of gaily decorated lances into the bull
which continuing in its wild rush,
would go crashing over the chair in
which the man had been sitting.
Feats of this nature proved that it re-
quired a quick eye and marvellous
agility to be an expert bull-fghter.
At the end of the fight the chief
matadore would take long tnin
sword, and after considerable maneu-
ering, deal the bull a thrust, which in
Spain is the death blow, but which in
France was allowed by law to be but
a slight wound. When this final
stroke had been given the bull, the an
imal, nearly exhausted, was driven
from the arena into pen where it was
Immediately killed.
The bulls, when slaughtered, were
bought by the Partisan butchers, and
it often happened that the French pa
pers denounced this practice, assert
ing that the fevered flesh was condu-
Give to i'll health.
The Grand Plaza de Toros, in Paris
is now thing OF the past, the comp
any owning the enterprise having
failed a number of years ago.
One cool and joyous day in early
Spring, Joan said to Darby, Lets
have garden" Darby and Joan
were fedgelings in housekeeping, so
when Darby viewed the vast area of
their tiny back yard, and mused on
the useless waste that the world owed
to sloth, he came to the conclusion
that Joan's words were inspired. La
ter on he thought of Adam and Eve,
and the troubles they had in a garden
but this is promising too much.
With muscle, and hope and hoe,
Darby began, amid Joans cheering
words to cultivate the earth and some
blisters. The hoe was just as new to
gardening as as was Darby, and with
each flashing stroke it made music
among the stones in the soil that ech-
oed harmoniously with the songs and
hntrJbtc nf In