The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-14

encase their feet. No Spanish woman
is ever too young or too old to take
pride in the smallness of her feet.
The women bull fighters do not speak
English, therefore communicated with
them through an interpreter. Much as
l might deplore their vocation, 1 could
not but pay tribute to the courage
Which had made competitors in a field
that is supposed to demand the nerve
and physical strength and skill of men
only. Each was of superb development,
easy and graceful in carriage, and with
complexion that even under roue and
powder evidenced the possession of fine
health.
Where did you get your earliest
training?" 1 asked.
The answer was repellant.
I'm the slaughter pens. 1t was there
we learned how to stab to KILL" was the
calm reply of Mauricia Alvarez. Senor-
ita Alvarez is the matadora, or espada,
whose part in the performance is that
Of star" and whose special province
1t is to reach in the bulls heart with
sword
And does the sight of slaughter new
er affect your" was asked.
The senorita shrugged her plump
shoulders. I looked inquiringly at her
companions and was answered by the
NH1hAAOuS uplifting OI SuOulu6T anu
eyebrow and careless toss of the head,
that more eloquently express indiffer-
ence among the Latin races than words.
Carmen Maria Almuhada spoke in
voluble Spanish.
Men have no scruples about killing
animals" said she, land why should
women be different from menu Four
brunette heads nodded approval of her
words.
my father was a matador," said
Mauricia Alvarez proudly, land a fam
Gus one. He was killed in the ring at
Madrid five years ago"
Are you not afraid when you en-
counter angry bulls in the ring?"
My father, whose sword 1 now use,
was not afraid. Why should I be, or
my two sisters here? We are honor
ed to uphold the name in the plazas
1t shall not die out just because the
men of our family can no longer keep
it fresh with victory in the public
mind. Our two brothers were mata-
DORIS fearless and skillful. One was
killed by bull, the other is now a
cripple from being badly gored in the
thigh. Alas, he will never fight any
more. Think of that! Never to fight
any more, after knowing for years
what it was to the hearts blood to
hear the cheers of the people! My
poor brother! 1t is glorious to die in
the ring, but to live only upon the
memories of past compassionate is
terrible.
1.-THE bulls we have to fight in Spain
are much more vicious than yours of
America. Ellos estan mucho grande,"
she added, indicating with a sweep of
her muscular arm the superior hight
-"mucho grande and muy male (big
and very bad). "Of course, we always
realize the danger we are in but we do
not feel what you call nervous at all.
We have never been seriously hurt.
but then we do not expect to get off
without scratches. That would be too
easy"
You will be killed some day most
likely" I predicted.
The senorita Alvarez shrugged her
plump shoulders again. She might
have been contemplating the purchase
of a mantilla for all the alarm that
was apparent in her pretty face.
"Muy bien!" Very Weld, she an
swred briefly.
IT am the principal matadora," she
continued in answer to a question. 81
direct the others. Sometimes my sis
ter Lolita assists me in dispatching
the bull, but she does not strike so
true as l. and then we lose some
points"
"Why do you kneel on one foot
when you meet the charge of the bull,
in giving a stroke? Cervera does not
kneel and he is one of SPANS most IA
nous fighters"
"It makes me stronger, and I strike
my sword firmer. We have no plea
DORA. We do. all our fighting on foot.
This increases the danger. The ban
derilleras must be very quick on their
feet, else they will get killed.
Then their manager came in and an
nounced that they must start.
"Adios" they said in chorus. Five
pairs of red lips parted bewitchingly
over five rows of white teeth. "Adios"
Bull fighters, like animal trainers, are
usually sacrificed on the altar of their
profession by the power of their play
things. Narrow escapes only parry their
fate for a time.
Antonio Cervera, one of the most ia