Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-11
BULL FIGHT A SUNDAY SHOW
One Of the Popular ADJUSTMENTS Of the
Mexican Citizens
FEGTUREs OF TRE A[FAR As CONDUCTED
Gall Has No show from the start,
and his Careas Goes 60 Feed
the Poor Of the Great
CITY.

Almost every citizen Of the United States.
in spite of their high regard for the insti-
tutions OF their own and mother countries,
and strong respect for the best in human
nature everywhere. and honest dlstaste for
cruelty and brutality. outside OF our best
colleges, go to see the bull fight" the
first Sunday after his arrival in Mexico.
and most always offers some apology to his
friends for 1t afterward.
A few never go, quite a number attend
but once, while a larger crowd goes be-
cause Of having been told that zone should
see the bull fight while in Mexico, what
ever else he missed" and that the idea
OF being IN the republic of Mexico without
seeing a fight was not to be thought Of
IN other words sort Of ''shamed into going
instead Of Just going because they wanted
70 and because OF 1t being personal AFFAIR
and from its fascinating history, for It is
said to be a fact that If the travelling
public-whateyer that may mean-would
absolutely discountenance the fight. under
the rapid development OF Mexico and the
influx of English and American immigrants,
the fight would wane; but 1 would not
like TO assume any responsibility when it
comes to urging belief in that statement,
for II seems to one who takes the trouble
TO observe that, next to the respect for
the president" the love Of the fight" is
the first thing in the heart Of the nation.
External Idea of Bull Fight.
The fight is difficult to describe, and one
can get but a vague idea from the written
thoughts OF another, but imagine, II you
please. an arena upon the ground, about
which fence, perhaps six feet high,
painted brilliant red. There are several
gates leading into the ring, one for the en-
-
the bulls are driven, and the third for the
exit Of the mules bearing away the dead
animals. Surrounding the arena are seats,
one tier above the other, very substantially
built, for unlike those of the American
circus, they are a permanent thing. as the
bull fight bids fair to remain the national
entertainment" for many decades to come.
II you can imagine this arena of bright,
sunshiny day, with the seats all taken at
IS and t250 each-2O,OOO OF them-you may
get an idea.
Now a bull fight must be brutal-there
is no other way out OF tia bull cannot be
tortured and worried and finally killed
without brutality, and the more tantilizing
the torture the greater the applause and
the better the fight, for the sport Is a relic
OF barbarism and a legacy from Spain,
so that the person who attends a session
VNptNAAhB lhdN Jun AAbnN WIN NC CDh-
Quoted upon the mild drawing room"
style Of one of our Indian reviews or
exhibition battles" had best remain away
and read about It, but II they really wish
to know as a matter OF discipline TO their
nerves, Just how much they can stand
and want to see a real exhibition of what
bull can do when pitted against "cua-
derfilla" of Spanish brutes, all skilled in
the arts OF the game. they should stimu-
late themselves with the recollection that
the horses used in the ring are worn out
anyway and would not bring 81 each at
the market, and that death will be a re-
lief to them; and then, there is always
some hope that the matador may get
caught. Then the dead bulls furnish food
for the poor OF the city, and the tactics
used in bringing about these things are
wonderfully skillful, Then. It must never
be recorded against the taste of anyone
that they enjoyed the grand entry" for
no other act In any of the dramas that
serve in their different ways to entertain
or amuse a pleasure loving public is lust
like this, and no other performance in the
world is received by the sport loving pub
lie with such wild enthusiasm and ap-
preciatIve applause as bull fighting
FOrmalities of the Ring.
when the hour actually arrives, the
procession enters, headed by the arrogant
''impressarrio." In Spanish costume,
mounted upon ine horse, that keeps step
TO the music; this is the ''show horse"
and does not appear again.
Next comes the "matadors," whose dig
nifty and bearing are above criticism, for
they are the stars of the profession and
wear the most gorgeous uniforms. Follow
Ing them are the ''banderrilleros'' and
''capas," who are the aids to the prin-
cipals, closely followed by the "pioadors.' -
mounted upon the horses that shall carry
them into the fight. and more than likely
be killed under them by the bull In the
rear comes the 'mazos," servants, and
mule teams, which constitute all that will
take part in the fight. All carry banners
and are In brilliant-hued uniform suited to
their rank.
The leader, on horseback approaches the
platform and salutes the 'chief judge. -
who among an able corps of helpers, man
ages and umpires the fight, after which he
reUres from the ring. accompanied by