The Washington herald., 1910-12-25

The ancient inhabitants Of Mexico were
ever fond of sports Of all kinds. and in
the days before the coming OF the white
man TO toe shores of America they in
dulged in a sort of pel0ta game in aquat-
lie contests, races. wrestling matches.
and military exercises OF various kinds
They also held endurance races. much
after the manner Of the modern Marathon
races. All these were purely athletic
But they also had many games of
chance and skill. and certain pastfmes
such as fighting coyotest and other wild
animals. There is no daubt that these
tendencies Of the AZtecs and other native
races made them take kindly TO the bull
night and the cocknght
The latter. especially. owing 10 its IN
expensive nature. early became q fsvorlte
pastime Of the lower classes, and was,
later on, taken mp by the better people
soon every one who was able. and most
people We're had one OF more lighting
cecks
Every Sunday and every feast day there
were literally thousands OF places
throughout Mexico where the populaCe.
/ or "A COOdly part Of the men. spent the
/ afternoons at the side Of the cockpit
Il was no uncommon thing for some
well-tO-dO gentleman ia 20 TO the scene
Of the contests. accompanied by halt
dozen or more servants. each with bird
under each arm In those days the true
deyotee Of the sport prided himself on his
knowledge Of the lighting qualities % the
birds. and be- believed that he was able
in most cases. 70 pick the winners on
sight Then too. there were strains and
families OF birds known throughout Mex
leo as well and as fdvoranly as the nnest
/ blood horses are now known throughout
/ the United States, Canada, and all The
: sporting countries Of Europe some of
I these birds brought very high prices
/ Sometimes rich gentleman Tisked as
much as Sl6o.00j in one day on various
/ cockhghtng contests
In years past the great cockhghts were
/ held during the month Of December, IN
connection with the festival Ar Guada-
/ Iupe Then this sport WED with that or
gambling for popular favor. OF the thou
sands upon thousands Of pilgrims who
visited the shrine the greater number OF
/ the men brought with them one or more
/ lighting birds each. and some Of the poems
and lower middle classes from interior
points brought many birds TO sch al the
villa. These were either carried in great
! wicker cages upon the heads Of the OWL
/ ers. or in OK carts; often the Journey 10
the villa took from one 10 three weeks.
( In those DAYS the cities and towns
I swarmed with professional gamblers who
made a living Al the side OF the cockpit.
/ They were men who had spent all theT
active lives in the sport and they had
/ learned. almost inStictively. as II were,
1 10 judge of the merits Of The BIRDS as soon
/ as they appeared at the pitside Protiuns
al ID
the majority of bets that they made and
thus 10 make a good living out OF the
sport
There were still others as there are to-
day. who acted as the giVers and takers
of bets. from whom they collected small
commissions. OF these men there were
thousands throughout the country, and
no hamlet. however. small, was too un-
i,nnortant To possess one. They were the
counterpart Of the modern bookmakers-
The glory of the cockfight has forever
gone from Mexico; but the sport stlll eX-
lists. though il is now confined 10 the
| lower. classes in the cities and towns, and
once in "A while a rich hacienda takes
an interest in il in rural districts. Bui.
though II has fallen upon evil days, il sim
survives as a picturesque relic or the
nast when il was once the sport and
nastime of kings, princes, and mobiles. A
visit 10 the cockpit is certainly novelty
and an entertaining experience to one
who has never been there before.
In the smaller towns and villages OF
Mexico the cockhght still holds It's own
in the hearts of the populace. and no fair
or public festival is complete without its
cockpit. which is generally well adver-
tised and made one OF the attractions OF
the festival At these festivals. as in the
olden days. betting is still feature OF
the sport, and often much money changes