Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-30

u trines. The people
S who go down from
Paris are hypnotized
by certain strong elements in the life they
ma around them-by Spanish music, Span
Ism dances, Spanish beauty Spanish tobac-
co, Spanish piety, Spanish ferocity.
Despite the disgusting immortality of the
thing, know of no sight more stirring and
imposing than the first part of an expen-
siFe Dun hght, with the ceremonious en-
trance TO the blare of trumpets; the pro-
cession OF historic costumes of crimson,
pale blue, white and canary; of pea green
slivery white and pink; or scarlet, black,
dark blue and white-and over all of II the
Driilant sunlight, the perfumes of spring
IN the sweet air, ard the enthusiasm Of Il
hiSnty audience that moves and shouts
ana biazes with excitement.
The ring at Tarragona, for exImple-lit-
tie, OLD, loSt-to-the-world Tarragona-giyes
seats for 1900 people-more than the en-
tire population Of that backward town along
tne Medlterranean; and yet the seats are
often full. for the country people for miles
a; ound flock in, on foot, on donkeys asses
fcrses and in bullock carts So that when
the big band strikes up the old barharic
Iharch, and the thousands on the benches
move themselves uneasily, and shout down
greetings to their favorte fighters, YOU
nave a scene before you not to be forgot
ten
SpNnlsh fO1nt of View.
The central idea of the bull fight, the
spanish will tell the visitor is to display
the courage and dexterity of men, 1t IS ac-
knoWledged that the bull is more than a
mans match-the bull with his strength.
ferocity and sharp horns, and the man
alone, armed with a slender sword. Again,
1t Is essential that the bull should be killed
with but one single stroke, given while the
swordsman, the espada, faces him. This
stroke must also be delivered in one special
spot, behind the shoulders to penetrate
The heart Should it glance and strike the
lungs instead. SO that the bull will drop
blood from his mouth, the audience is dis
Susted, and expresses its disgust. All this
is delicate and dangerous work and it re-
qulres preparation to make conditions equal
LOT Dolh parties, man and bull. Besides,
there must be ceremony and a show Ont
OF these necessities the numerous and we'll
defined acts and scenes of a bull fight take
their due progression.
The bull must first be exercised before
the audience, that they may take pleasure
In his strength The animal is noble, with
pedigree as long as that of many a don.
He is slender, with small headquarters and
tremendous neck and shoulders Neverthe-
less, he is rather small than large. His
horns are straight and sharp; and he is
quick, tricky and vicious as a devil. The
ordinary bull fighters, toreadors, flaunt
their cloaks before his face and escape
with difficulty, often being obliged to jump
the fence around the ring. But for the
poor horses there is no escape. and here is
where the sickness Of the stranger takes
its sudden rise.
Use of BrOken-DOwn Horses.
The object of bringing in the horses
early in the game poor broken-down old
Creatures) is really four-foid. 1t is first 10
exhibit the vigor of the bull when he lifts
and losses them with the most abominable
strength. Next, it is to tire the bull lit
tie, that it will not be impossible for a
single man to face him later on. Thirdly
it is to give the bull smell of blood, that
being naturally what he himself is fight
ing for. Lastly, it must be said unhappily.
it is to give the people themselves a sight
of blood
l believe this latter to be absolutely
true, in spite of all denials of Spanards.
The audience seems to like the blood of
the mangled horses
And now, while the bull is being taunt-
ed in the ring, almost at the beginning,
the horses. blindfolded, are therefore be-
ing slowly ridden around to him. Upon
them are mounted the most degraded of
all bull fighters, the picadors, so little
thought of by the people themselves that
the lowest, cheapest brand of Spanish Gig
arettes called with consent the
picadors. 1t is the trade of these gentle
men-who ride in always, it is said half
drunk-tO see that the blindfolded horses
which they ride are properly ruined by
the bull; it is their trade to spear the bull
with long lance, to irritate him, and to
save themselves. They themselves are
protected on the legs by iron sheathings.
After two or four or even eight horses
have been gored and tossed and tumbled
and are dragged away dead and bleeding
the trumpet sounds and a very different
set of men dash into the wide bull ring.
Enter the Real Things.
These are the banderilleros. Each one
of them has two berihboned darts like
little harpoons, in his hand, which he
must fix in the bulls neck to pain him, to
infuriate him, and to make him exhibit
the agility of men.
1t is matter of no little skill and dam
ger; II successful, 1t almost crazes the
animal, giving him the maximum of fe-
rocity with the minimum Of strength. 1t
is also one of the ''prettiest" parts of the
cOrrdo de torres; for the bull comes on
with II rush to these most nimble and
courageous banderileros, who often must
evade him by a single inch. Each inva-
sion and each trick of daring has it's name
and is applauded or Kissed by the excited
thousands on the benches. according to
the audacity, GOODNESS and dexterity of
the men. or the reverse.
These lively fellows. who take terrible
risks. will seat themselves in chairs and
let the bull come laundering down on them.
Then at the very instant that he would
strike them, toss them, mangie them, they
rise. plant their harpoons into his neck,
and leap aside. The bull must be content
to toss the chair. Or they will take a long
pole, and leap over the bulls back as he
comes at them. Or they will kneel down
on one knee, with grace, and tickle the
puzzled beast upon his nose with lace
handkerchief and slip aside from him.
Their harpoons. which they jab into his
injured and insulted neck, should make
him wild.
Fireworks In the Bulls Neck
But If he does not show sufficient Wild
ress, the people cry for Fire. And here
1t is too sickening and cowardly to pro-
coed in detail. Sufficient it will be to say
that there have been invented banderillas
with fireworks attachments. that they
may burn after they have been thrust
into the bulls neck!
Enough. The time has now arrived for
the great act of the matador, or the es-
pada, the most important man. the high
professional who has to kill crazy bull
made monstrously wicked by ill-treatment
and a thousand goadings. The bull Is
weakened. 1t Is true; but he Is still so dam
gerous that half the matadors of history
fhofr in