Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-07-02

visitors to the Pan-AInerican EXposi- |
fion at Buffalo, will have an opportunl-
ty of observing in some modified form,
In the Streets of Mexico, a phase of
Spanish life, which has been repro
duced in the Midway, to crafty the
tastes of our southern ncghbors. For
this purpose, forty bulls were imported
from Mexico few days ago, to be
used in representation of the bull
practiced in the country OF its origin,
was bequeathed by the Moors to their
successors, when driven from Spain
several centuries ago, and though II
has been perpetuated in different colln.
ties under the dominion of the Span
lard or his descendants, the custom of
lighting with bulls was never trans
planted to the land OF the Moor 70
picture II scene OF this so-called Sport,
as traveller may witness 1t in Spnin's
capital and largest city--u city of n
little less than 100000. and attempt
To describe something of the national
game which every civilized person
should abhor, Is my excuse for Offer
ing a personal experience In Madrid,
and, ut the same time denounce sport
which can only serve to create n NOR
bid appetite for cruelty to animals.
Whereas, In former days, the sport
was INDUCED In by gentlemen of rank /
and was designed to exhibit skilled
horsemanship and lancing, It is today,
the profession of the lowest caste
In Spain, and the bull-hghter springs
from the class. which, in most cases.
can neither read nor write. But that
does not exclude him from the favor
of the educated or from being exalted
ms hero by noblemen and princes,
and even one 80 high In authority as
was the xQueen Isabella, Years
ago, tho champion matador. who had
so far commanded the admiration of
the deposed Queen, that she showered
her Jewels upon him from the Royal
box in the amphtheater, was playing
MS last game In the arena of Madrid.
He was TO retire the following Sun
day after | saw him, having earned
many thousands of dollars by his pro.
fession, for he was considered. at the
age of iS, too old man TO participate
again in the Fiesta de roros. Our host
urged that not TO see the bull fight,
and the man who was then Spnn's
champion, was TO miss of seeing a
distinct feature OF Spanish life, and
no, with little conception OF It's horrors,
aud over-persuaded by his assurances
that the game was not as revolving
as Ii had been pictured, we yielded,
to discover only too late, that our
country offers no parallel In brutal
sport, to the national amusement of
the Spaniard II Is said that foreign.
ers, who are first to denounce the prac.
tice OF bull-hghtlng, are, Mt the same
time, the most eager to witness II,
However correct that may he, II can
be truthfully asserted, that one who
has never looked upon the horrible
spectacle, can have no idea OF the
element OF cruelty in all classes OF
spanish people, which finds delight
In torturing dumb beasts, and unfinch.
ingly gazing upon their sutferings
while goading them on to greater
frenzy.
Madrid Is credited with having the
finest bull.fghts In Spain, and 1t il
only In the larger cities that so cx
pensiyc an amusement can be INDUCED
in as frequently US once, or on feast
days twice n week, during the season
from spring until autumn. The fines,
animals. which bring fabulous prices
are raised far from the sight of human
beings, on the plain Of Andalusa
knowing none but their keeper, and
having TO be decoyed into the stalls
from which they are pur on the train
and transferred 10 the scene Of com
bat. The night before the fight, which
usually takes place on Sunday, they
are hurried to the city, arriving at 4
very early hour before the populaci
is astir, and there led from the station
by tame oxen, TO the stables connect
ed with the amphithPater, For severa
days previous. placards are posted
about the city, announcing the comm,
light and the very poor, whc
cannot afford a ticket, compensate
themselves by sight of the gallop
Ing herd, driven from the train. L