The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-02-21
TO MAKE A SPANISH HOLIDAY.
Mrs. Frank Leslie sympsthized with the
Four-Iegged Brutes.

From Laslie's Monthly.
| listened, and from the popular seats,
where there were crowds of brigandish
men, rose a sound l shall never forget;
not a shout, not cry-a sort of deep
throated growl or moan, like that of
pack of wolves seeming their prey from
afar A deep mutteTing of a thousand,
perhaps several thousands. / know not
how many VoiceS-for the arena Will
hold 1890 persons-and the sound meant
death and blood and cruel carnage, al
though the word was cavallo horse, ca
va-llo. divided into three separate sylla-
bles, the liquid sound of the Spanish dou-
bic | helping the peculiar moaning tone
1 have just mentioned
They want more horsesr' exclaimed
the Marquis -Four are disabled by this
one bull, and they are afraid the manage
ment will economic upon them. But il
would not be safe, with the pubic at its
present pitch of excitement"
And now came the bandeTillerOs, dane
ing lightly forward with all sorts of
graceful and fantastic antics, each man
moving his two darts, crossing them
above his head, gesticulating with them,
as If they were magical instruments, ana
finally running up lightly III front or the
bull, planting enc deXterously at each
lowering his head 10 toss his new enemy.
There is a science IN planting the bande-
rillOS, as | was Informed. ne Ddnuerl:.tT0
must approach in front OF the BULL and
must actually thrust his arm between the
creatures horns TO reach tie spot where
alone il is allowable 10 plant the dart
I This spot, scarcely larger than d dinner
plate, is just behind the head at each side
of the backbone, and one must admit that
} the nan who, without horse or armcr or
attendant cdpadOTeS, can do this pos
/ sesses alike skill, courage, and auddclty.
And now our poor bull, bleeding from
hundred wounds, ana wearled with ms
long pursuit of flying and ShddoWy enc
mics. began to show symptoms or eX-
/ haCstiOn. A bloody foam gathered and
| dropped from his muZzle; HIS believing
{ challenge of battle took on moan OF
pain and terror, and his eyes were Wea-
/ ried and bloOdshot. He had been torment
: ed to the last point Of endurance, and the
time for the matadOr had now arrived,
and the people were loudly calling for
him and the death of the doomed animal,
! who, fight he never so well, must always
play his losing game and die.
! Leaping lightly over the barrier, FraS-
! cuelo appeared, in one hand straight
tWo-edged sword, in the other little red
flag attached TO a stick-this is called
the muleta, and serves to divert the at
tentiOn of the bull. Moving gracefully 10
I the point opposite the royal box, the
matador removes his jaunty and bejew-
. elGQ cap. anu requests pcIIHISSAOH W STAY
. the bull in honor of his majesty the
/ King. The Alcalde gives the necessary
/ permission in his name, and the matadoT
/ turns his attention to the bull, who Is
slowly approaching, paving the ground
and uttering low, moaning cries, half
anger half pain. For a moment man and
beast study each other, the bull fun OF
logged despair, the man triumphantly
Then the latter, waving the muleta be-
fore the animals eyes, invites the fray
steps nimbly aside as the creature seems
directly upon him, turns and agar
flaunts the little banner, until at last tbs
convenient moment arrives. and with q
victorious cry the heavy sword is planted
in the vital spot at the base of the skull
and with one tremendous effort is buried
to the hilt.
a team of gaily decorated mules gallon
in. drawing a hurdle upon which poor
Taurus is dragged out his hide 10 bt
stripped off and his flesh sold to the very
poor, who thus enjoy his death twice
over.
How often did think of our great phil
anthropist, Henry Bergh. that dismal aft
eTnOon, and wish that his noble teach
Z ings might extend 10 Spain.
/ The reporterS-for this precious home
institution Of ours has made its way ever
to far-distant Spain-called later on u
know my impressions of the grand bui
fight. and ! was forced 10 tell them tina
my sympathies We're entirely with III,
| fouT-legged, instead of the two-legeet
brutes.