Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-23
BULL FIGHTING.
The ominous Bloodthirstiness Of the
Spaniard.

From the Literary Digest
King Alfonso and his young queen. in
view of the anarchist menace, are consid-
cred by some sections of the European
press to be tempting the fate of Byron's
arroW-stricken eagle, who himself had
'nursed the pinon that impelled the steel"
Thus, for instance, a tone of pessimistic
foreboding runs through the comments of
the Neue GeseIlschaft (Berlin) on the pres
ence of Queen Victoria of Spain at the bull
fight in Madrid. The writer seems to see
the writing the wall the shroud that
is visible to the second sight of the High
land prophet. The men who died by the
bomb of Morales were soon forgotten. we
are told, and new bloodshed was desired by
the Spanish people and their monarch.
That monarch does not know, remarks this
writer that he is training his people in
cruelty, bloodthirstiness and treachery by
thus sacrificing blindfolded horses and tor
tured bulls. He is revfying the worst fea-
lures of pagan Rome's decadent days. and
practically melting men to murder and as
sassination. To quote:
"A published order came from the court
of Spain that the attempt the king
life was not to cause any change In the
program of bridal festivities. Two dozen
men mad indeed been slaughtered by the
bomb of Matteo Morales The white shoes
of the young queen, at whom the murder
Gus grenade was aimed were wet with the
was said that she burst into tears on Mat
occasion; yet two days later she went laugh
ing to a scene of further butchery, which
was to be sanctioned by her royal presence.
The bull fight gathered together in har-
mony the whole Spanish population from
the laborer TO the king within that vast
amphitheater. And the queen, waving her
snowy veil, gave over and over again the
signal for fresh slaughter"
She watched with attentive eye and UNI
changing countenance all the atrocious cru
elites of each event. As this writer says:
The bulls, according to the testimony of
an eyewitness, appeared to- be peaceably
disposed, and 1t needed many a swordthrust
to rouse them into furious onslaught. High
born cavaliers were the first to draw blood
from them on this so-called field of honor!
Waving red flags and amid the roars of the
wounded creatures, the bul-fighters reused
them at last to rip up the blindfolded horses
of the picadors. The aopuiace howled their
applause at the sight, and pretty women
breathed faster, and 'rained influence with
warm glances upon thetf favorite cavaliers,
and their enthusiasm rose higher as the
arena Redeemed with the blood of BUTCH
cry
The queen lent herself easily to the spirit
Of the scene, quite unconscious of the fact
that she was encouraging the worst and
most dangerous passions of the people who
already BETRAYED the characteristics of
bond slaves. In the writer's own words:
And the white, blond queen, England
fresh and hower-like daughter q woman
brought up with all the cultivated tastes of
aristocracy, was untiring in waving her veil
as a signal for fresh bloodshed. Was
there one to tell her that by doing this
she was giving her sanction not only to the
butchery of beasts. but to the possible muir
der of men. Did no one suggest to her that
1t is the duty of sovereign not to fatter
the baser instincts of people, but foster
the development of a peoples higher ma
ture? But history shows that men of slav-
ish minds are found in every age, men who
ho hTf1a M
idieness and free sports, and who are al
ways ready to draw the sword of malice
and treaehery when suitable opportunity
offers.