The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-29
The Bull Fight.

There was a most attractive air OF
mystery about Samuel James Gusts, City
of Mexico and New York. which was the
| way he signed his name at one of tie
big lake front hotels. Samuel wore q
| silk hat, frock coat, a double breasted
white vest. grey trousers. a Roman
striped four-in-hand tie. and curious
| ring in the form OF a coiled serpent in
green gold. with diamond eyes Samuel's
little mustache had distinctively Spanish
curl. and all the boys" agreed that he
had a Sc bad eye" That was meant to ex-
press the idea that his expression was par
ticularly ''devilish" and fascinating.
The boys" were, of course. all thor
ough men OF the world. To them the
world was a squeezed orange. Their faded
palates had been stung so often by red
| pepper and other 'stimulants that it took
something exceedingly novel to startle
them into even show of interest Corse-
| uuently the arrival OF Samuel James Gus
| tbs with his curious double address and his
air of mystery was a noteworthy event.
Within a week, though he brought no
letters of introduction and professed pre-
vious acquaintance with no one in Chicago.
he was on fairly intimate terms with the
! whole coterie. He seemed to have plenty
| of money, which he spent freely. He
made his first hit by introducing a new
beverage which be called 1.-The hacienda
| bender-cooler," to the con position Of W. ich
| went a quart of the wiQow's extra dry,
| cracked ice, and other condiments. Then
| 1t developed that Samuel in his quiet and
| retiring way, was a wonderful teller of
| good stories. He painted a picture Of him
| self sitting under the shade of vine-cov
| cred box in the great white bull ring out
| side the City of Mexico. flirting with
| black-eyed senorita and looking down now
| and then at the matadorS risking their
| lives before the foam covered sharp
horned. agile Mexican bulls. 1t seemed TO
| the boys" that things OF that kind now
and then would go far toward making ex-
istence endurable. Then Ernie Edwards,
who has spent much money liz vain at
tempt to find remedy for chronic ennui.
made a remark which all the rest of the
boys" declare is responsible for every
thing which happened.
by Jove," he said, 81 wish we could
Fave something OF the kind here in
Chicago"
Yes" broke in Allie Provost, I'm
dead tired of going out to see prize fights
out and there isn't place within half a
dozen blocks where you can buy decent
high ball. But. of course. it's impossible to
have a bull fight in Chicago. The cops
wouldn't stand for it,
81 wonder sometimes" said Samuel
james Custis. in his softest voice and mild
est manner. 'if it would be quite impossi-
ble."
And with that began the spelling of the
Egyptians.
1t developed that Samue James Gus
tbs had an idea that il all the arrange
ments were conducted with the greatest
secrecy genuine Mexican bull fight might
be pulled on within a few miles of Chi
cago without the slightest danger Of inter-
ruption on the part of the authorities. 1t
would be a somewhat expensive undertake
ing. however, and he hardly thought 1t
worth while to go to all the trouble. He
assured the boys" that bull fight was
not such a terrifically exciting thing after
all. and he advised them to wait until a
chance came for them to visit Mexico. OF
course IL, in spite of his advice. they in
sisted on arranging for the fight. he, Sam
uel James Curtis, could easily secure the
services of half a dozen Of the best Mexi-
can matadors He also happened to know
of a man who had three magnificent dun
fighting bulls in training. But really, in
spite of the fact that there would be no
danger at all of interruption II the ar
rangements were made in the right way
and that the show might possibly be worth
seeing he would think it hardly worth
while to undertake it.
But the more cold water Samuel poured
on his own idea the more enthusiastic
the boys" became. The idea of pulling
on a genuine bull fight within hat
dozen miles of Chicago the attendance to
be confined only t, tie elect, was too fas-
cnating to be thro aside.
OF course" said Ernie" Edwards.
you've seen so many that bull fight
| has no particular interest for you. But
it would be mighty hot stuff for our fel-
lows"
At this point Samuel James Gusts in
terrupted to order another round Of ha-
cienda bender-coolers, after which the con-
ference was renewed.
IF you are really serious about IT. said
Samuel, 81 can easily show you how 1t can
be arranged. / won't have time, Of course,
to do much about it myself, but I'll be glsd
to help you all can. But don't you think
it's a pretty big undertaking."
Ernie" and Allie" and all the rest OF
the boys were insistent
We'll. 1 think the best place 10 hold the
fight is down on the Indiana sand dunes.
| There's plenty OF vacant room there. and
It'll be easy enough TO pick out place
out of sight Of a house. Now the first thing
you want to DO is TO pick out somebody to
act as manager"
But none of the boys had had any ex-
perience in managing bull fights, nor had
any of their acquaintances. They urged
Samuel to undertake the matter himself.
as a special favor t. them. But SamueIs
business, the nature of which was COM
plete mystery. forbade his undertaking it.
II they really insisted, however, he would
send for a friend who was thoroughly
posted in the built fighting line. The boys"
we're delighted.
Now, don't let's have any misunder-
standing about this matter" said the rich
and artless Samuel 81 don't want you
men'-and at that they felt fattered-"to
! imagine | want to make any money out OF
this thing. I'll tell you what I'll do. II
you carry the scheme out I'll send down
and get couple Of matadors at my own
expnse. The money to pay for the bulls,
for fixing up the ring, and for giving
little purse to the matadors We can make
up, l suppose, by selling tickets to the
ring. Now. perhaps. you had better appoint
a treasurer. l. of course, could not think
of serving in that capacity"
But the boys" felt that the generosity
shown by Samuel James Gusts in bringing
the matadors from Mexico at his own cost
deserved some recognition, and his refusal
to serve as treasurer only suggested that
he should be chosen In spite Of it. When
It was settled that he should be appointed
the crafty Samuel well pleased, postponed
immediate action, declaring that there was
no necessity for a treasurer, after all, I'M
til their ARRANGEMENTS were nearer COM