Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-24

| though he is opposed to the conservative
| party now in power, he is very much re-
! spected, and the government would like
| to pay him the honor. He was minister
of marine in the last liberal cabinet His
| finances are pretty well reorganized, and
| he has been able to compromise with his
| creditors and retain most of his estates.
Raises Fighting Bulls.
His home is near the old city of Toledo,
where he has a ranch and raises the fin
est fighting bulls in Spain. They are
either white or cream colored, with long.
| ugly horns, like Texas cattle, and are IA
nous for their fierce dispositions.
bull for the ring must be without blem
| ish and reaches It's best strength at five
| years old From the vacadas, or ranch,
| they sent to their destination in cages
| by railway, and are handled as carefully as
| race horses. When they reach the ring
| they are fed in ordinary corrals until the
| day before the exhibition. Then they are
| driven into dark stables without the slight
| est light, and are kept without food, SO that
they shall be as nervous and as fierce as
possible.
1t is estimated that about 5000 bulls are
killed annually in the rings of Spain, and
about 5000 horses The bulls worth
from 5000 to $500; the horses have no value
except for their hides and hoofS, and are
bought from street car companies and liv-
cry dealers, who go around picking them up
as cheaply as possible. 1t is calculated
that the people of Spain spend So 600 600 a
year in patronizing this cruel sport, which
dates back to the sixteenth century.
The early chronicles contain a graphic
account of a fight which occurred in 1872
and letters written from Madrid in the sew
enteenth century describe frequent bull
fights which took place in the Plaza Mayor.
and were attended by the king, the court,
the archbishop and all of the digntaries.
Of Moorish Origin.
The sport originated among the Moors
Until 1749 bull fighters were volunteers,
lyrie hot
tunity to show their bravery and skill, and
On one occasion during a celebration in the
Plaza Mayor no less than twelve were
killed single Sunday. From 175O,
when admission fees were first charged, the
bull rings began to grow more and more
under the control of professionals, and now
men are trained and educated for the BUSH
ness just as they are for the opera or the
ballet. When famous bull fighters become
too old or too fat to risk their lives in the
ring they usually start saloons, become
managers of bull rings or establish schools
for the education Of young men ambitious
to initiate them, just as aged ballet dancers
sion.
There is a much wider field for profess
sional bull fighters than one would imagine,
and the industry fiourishes There are now
25G regular bull rings in Spain, at which
performances are given regularly, and most
of them every Sunday from Easter until
November, and ia other towns at which
they can be inclosed when needed
There are four classes Of bull fighters,
and several of each class, never less than
two, must be employed at every "corrida,"
the fight is called, so that during the
summer 5000 or probably 4, 900 professionals
are constantly engaged and they receive
very large salaries from the Spanish point
of view.
Salaries Of Matadors.
The greatest matadors. the popular IA
vcrites who engaged at the "corridas''
at Madrid and Seville, receive the highest
salaries that are paid in Spain, even more
than is received by the prime minister or
the manager of the Bank of Spain. During
the winter, when there Is no fighting to be
done, matadOr keeps himself in condition
by constant training, and allows the public
to admire him. Some of them cross the
sionally appear there during the winter
months.
National Legislators.
The chamber of deputies in Madrid is a
plain-looking building, erected in 1850, on
desks, for a member never thinks of writ
chamber is in session, and they speak from
their seats and not from a tribune as they
do in Paris. There are some fine portraits
and paintings in the building, and mbed-
ded in the wall back of the speakers chair
are tablets bearing the names of Spaniards
who have fallen in the struggle for politi al
freedom.
The senate occupies ancient mona stery
opposite the royal stables and a statue of
Canovas de Castillo, the late prime min
lister, has recently been erected in the court
yard.