Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-05-22

city in Spain on Thursday ana sun
day of each week, also on the ma
tional holidays. The king, tho
very much opposed to them is COM
PEELED, by custom, to attend at GER
tain times.
One Thursday we thought we
would attend, as my idea Of what
took place there was not very clear.
AS soon as the carriage was ready
we took our, places and we're at the
Puerta del Sol in short time.
Thence we went eastward along the
Gale Alcala, past the Gran Hotel
Paris, the Palace of the Minister OF
War, and the BancO de Espana
Bank of SPAIN 1t was vast con-
course that went alor g the broad
Gale Alcala on its way to the Piazza
de TOros. The wide walks were
crowded, but the people could not
walk in the streets because that too
was filled with cars, omnibuses and
the splendid carriages Of the foreign
diplomats and the members OF
Spanish royalty and nobility. On
they went, across the Paseo de la
Castellana, under the arch of Carlos,
past the British Embassy and the
Parque de Madrid. On arriving at
the Plaza de Alcala we came in view
of huge round structure, not I'M
like the Roman Colosseum.
This was the Plaza de TOros
where the bull-fights in Madrid took
place. We took our place in seats
at front. The shape of the interior
was an oval. Each chair was a
little higher than the one in front.
AS soon as the crowd, numbering
over 5000, had been admitted,
key was delivered to the public
executioner who opened the pen at
one side of the arena wherein was
confined the bull named Ell Moreno
(the Brown one.) At the same time
from the opposite direction came
the picador mounted upon a blind
folded horse. The bull, at first
blinded by the sunlight, hesitated
moment, then rushed at the horse,
tearing it open with his sharp horns.
The rider was thrown upon the
ground. The people applauded,
clapping their hands and shouting,
Bravo! Morenow 1t seemed as
tho the picador's life was in peril
He however made his escape as the
chulos rushed in with red cloths
with which they turned the bulls
attention to themselves. The horse
was dragged out.
Then the banderilleros came in
and threw at the bull sharp pointed
darts having fireworks and little
flags on them. The exploding fire
works burned him and made him
furious. He rushed around the
arena, with the little flags t1utter-
in gall over him.
The final act began with the en-
trance of the matadOr. He WIS
armed with a long straight sword.
Ell Moreno rushed upon him quick
| ly, but the matadOr just stepped to
one side and, as the bull was going
past, stuck the sword up to the hilt
into the bulls body just back OF the
neck. The bull was dragged out
Immediately and everything was
made ready for repetition of the
performance with the bull, Eel
Colorado" (the Red.) The scene
was repeated eight times, thus kill
ing that number of bulls.
Some of them would give the
matador about all he could do to
kill them. Sometimes one bull
would kill several horses. We were
glad when the terrible fight was
ended.
AS we left the Plaza de TOrOs we
saw some of it's managers selling
| the meat of the bulls and horses.
With great maganimity they sold
it very cheaply to the poor people.
This sport is not greatly enjoyed
by foreigners who fail to see any
fun in it. An American was asked
by a senorita what part of the
fight he had enjoyed the most. He
replied that he did net like it at all,
and thought that the killing of the
horses was very cruel. She said
that was what she enjoyed the
most. That is what most of the
Spaniards thinks Of it.
King Alfonso is not at all fond OF
this cruel custom. Once he pro-
Ihibited the fights, but the people
and the mobiles became so enraged
that within two weeks his decree
was recalled, and the "eport" was
resumed. 1t may be that some day
the people will realize the cruelty
of it or there will be some ruler
strong enough TO put an end to
such relic Of Earbarism. "QUlen