Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-01
RESTRICTION ON BULLF|GHTsI
CRUELTY OF SPANISH Ma.
TIoNAL GAME RECOGNIZED.
From the Literary Digest.

From the Literary Digest.
The bullfight is the national game OF
| Spain. as base ball is of America, cricket
| of England. and lacrosse OF Canada. Yet
| this national game Is degenerating and
| Spanish statesmen are beginning timidly
| to impose restrictions upon it. To abolish
| the bull ring would cause a revolution
but law has been passed, says a writer
| in the Gil Bias (Paris) which forbidss
| the introduction into the ring for q secon
| time of a bull who has killed the mata-
| dor or SO injured him as to escape dealt
! at his hand. Accidents have been very
| frequent during the present year, we are
| told, and since April II five matador ;
| have been killed and IL bullfighters
| various ranks seriously injured In tn
| ring. "A well known Spanish matador,
| speaking to the representative of tt ;
| Paris daily quoted above. openly a
| knowledges the want of skill and couras
| which causes such disasters, and almoi
weeps over the decadence of the bull
| himself, who actually prefers runnh &
his horns through the ribs of the ma
with the red flag to accepting the sta
of ibis tormentors sword and dying n
roically himself This anonymous star II
the bull ring remarks:
Destined to Disappear.
The bullfght is destined TO disar-
A.
become a piece of cruelty, from tie
fact that the science of tauromacl
has become terribly decadent The g
traditions of the past are daily wants n
ing. The connoisseur recalls the bu
fights of former days with all its Pc
cision. swiftness and brilliance. 1t vi;
miracle when matadors like Cuba, :
missed their stroke. The bulls, I. ,,
were Of superb breed. and had all iiie
points recognized by the eye Of
perts. Before the fight began at 9
mere sight of the horses. at the m.
entrance of the bull into the are a.
those masters of their art knew how
the combat would unfold itself. and o.
trolled 1t accordingly. In the most -
citing incidents of the struggle nothi z
was left to chance. Those men w,
the Napoleons of tauromachy. Whe1 +
as matadors. or as banderilleros, ev,
member of the corps showed himself 4
prodigy of address. concealed under IN
air of the most perfect ease. The or
or corps of toreros were perfec;
trained. disciplined and taught to WI TX
together. Every one knew his part ard
modestly confined himself to IL. thilh-
ing only of aiding and supporting his
companions. Thus, accidents were much
rarer than they are now
Pastime in Decline.
This expert goes on to say that the efa-
cation OF the bullfighter is nowadi
neglected. The breed of bulls, too, is
inferior. and their characters are unit
cided and wavering. The profession is
vulgarized. Every village lad thir s
himself fit to enter the arena. - ,e
only wonder is that accidents are
few" Leaving out of sight the fact Il al
at least six bulls are tortured and kill 4
at every bullfght this enthusiastic p.o-
fessional says in defense of the spectaele
Taking all in all the bullfight does MT
kill any more people than the steepla-
chase kills jockeys and the circus acf }
bats. But the moment man is not t..e
stronger, the moment the bullfght ceaf es
TO represent the triumph of agility ard
human ingenuity over the brute strength
and natural weapons of the ferocions
beast. its doom Is sealed. 1t will lie
abolished sooner or later. Probably late r.
because the bullfght represents for
Spain. besides the hold which It has On
the people from immemorial custom. very
important economic interests. Nothing.
however. can prevent its final abolition