The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-24

pulka is drunk. Some one told me that
it would take thirty trainloads of pulka
daily to supply the City of Mexico. Ma
tive WHISTLES are very cheap, selling
from soc to $i00 per gallon These people
of the market are poems or slaves The
| first-class people do not come here. They
60 to the stores, which are open also.
Leaving the park we return by way of
the Alameda, a fine band is playing there.
This Spanish music is even soft and beau
tiful-no wild bursts or mad poundings
of the drums Only first class people are
admitted here. The gendarmes escort the
peon elsewhere. He Is not even permitted
to stay a great way off, but must go
on" There Is a marked absence OF the
middle class here. The people are veiy
rich or very poor.
We attend services at the Presbyterian
church. | think all denominations have
churches in the city. | got the num-
Der of church. and the ,iumber If Profess
tant Christians, but do not remember
them.
AT p. m. is that nationr sport ri the
Mexicans, the bull fight. OF course, we
will go. 1t is a mile or so out. We take
car and soon are at that mighty amph1-
theatre of interest. We find several Amer
leans already on the grounu, all eager to
see the fun. Tickets are from $1.o0 to $40.
We do not take a $40 ticket; one much
cheaper serves all right.
Many people are neutrality-suspicious., in
carriages, on horseback and on foot. First
we pass through door of a high wall;
next into the passage way that ends in a
pair of steps which lead up to the seats
around the ring. The ring is 100 feet in
diameter, and is surrounded by a fence
five or six feet high. A passway Is made
outside this fence three or four feet wide.
Next the seats rise in tiers to a seating
al nf
rows of private boxes, covered. for which
the high prices are charged. The others
and the ring are open.
There are two commands of soldiers, one
on each side. to aid in keeping order. and
every twenty or thirty feet all around
the ring are gendarmes, or police. Every
one of them is expected to do his duty.
fine band at opportune times furnishes
some choice music.
There is considerable pomp and display
connected with fight; first couple OF
men come into the ring richly dressed
and mounted on magnificent studs They
ride around the ring, their horses ca
vorting and prancing, to see that all Is
well, we supposed
Next come the torreros or bull lighters,
richly dressed in bright Saline Jackets and
knee breeches, both adorned with gold
braid. fringes. tassels, arabesqes, etc, and
hat, while they carry a rich mantle or silk
ana a IuItt-cOTDtItu DidNh NtiNtN tOSh'b
hat while they carr va rich mantle of silk
or satin. Some of these costumes cost as
much as $1,000 each. These men are a-foot.
Next come men on horseback, and last the
mules dash in with jangling bells and
Haunting colors. They will drag out the
dead horses and bulls. They now pass out
until needed.
The fight is in three divisions A horn
sounds gate in the wall is thrown open
and a big bull dashes into the ring. AS
he passes the gate steel barb, covered
with CLOTH is thrown into his shoulder,
showing what Hacienda he came from.
The people applaud and shout. the music
swells to exultant strains lie stands
moment majestic and grand, his grizzled
head high in the air and flashing his sides.
A brilliant red cloth is shaken vauntingly
before his eyes. Infatuated. he dashes
around the ring. A horseman attempts
to check him with his spear, but is not
strong enough A mighty strike, the horse
and rider are lifted bodily from the
ground Then, satisfied with his work, he
sings them disdainfully away. The muir
derous horn is followed by a stream of
bright red blood as 1t is Withdrawn from
the horses body. He lies where he was
thrown and in a moment is dead. The peo-
pie yell and applaud, for such deeds make
the sport more charming. More horses are
brought. for the crowd calls for them;
others are wounded and soon the bull
tires Then the horn sounds again. The
horses are taken away, and we are now
ready for the second part of the play
Banderilas are sticks Of wood covered
with ropes about two and one-half feet
long and the size Of a broom handle, with
sharp barb in the end. A banderillero
takes two of these, attracts the bull >
attention. and when he charges Sticks the
two barbs together in the shoulders OF the
animal Then he jumps to one side so as
to avoid the rush. 1t takes action. but
these men have it. They stick as many
as six or eight banderellas in each bull.
ana hx this lima ha has crown 10 Tired