The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-12

Robert Howard Russell In Harpers
Magazine
TovARD evening we went TO the
Praca de Touros to see Portu-
L euese bull fight for bull rings
are as prevalent in Portugal as golf
links in Scotland. The Portuguese bull
fight is very different affair from the
degenerate bull fight of Spain, where
the cruel torture of poor and decrepll
old horses Is provided to satisfy the
brutal thirst for the sight of blood
and dying agonies which the Spaniard
demands. In Portugal the bull fight
Is a display of high school horseman,
ship and instead of the pathetic old
wornout animals which are brought
into the Spanish bull ring to be brutal
| " torn to pieces the horses are the
finest animals in the country, schooled
to obey the slightest wish of the rider,
as conveyed by touch of the bride,
the knees, or an inclination of the
body, and the principal concern of the
rider is to see that his horse is not even
touched by the bull, even the slightest
touch scoring a point against him. The
ceremony opens with the cortesias
fare of trumpets signals the entrance
of the cavalleiros and their attend
ant company of bull fighters. The cav
alleiros, who are often gentlemen and
not professionals, take the place of
the matadores in the Spanish ring.
but are beautifully mounted on per-
fectly trained horses, instead of be-
Ing on foot. The cavalleiros then per-
form a number of graceful evolutions
on their high sch DOL horses, saluting
the distinguished aficianado, who, seat
ed In the central box, acts as the mas
ter of ceremonies and director of the
bull ring.
When their skillful maneuvers are at
an end the cavalleiros ask permission
of the director to have the first bull
brought into the ring, and having Sc
lected one of their number to encounter
him, the others withdraw, leaving the
one horseman to meet the charge of I'll
bull. The gate is then pulled up and
the bull rushes into the ring, receiving,
as he enters, a barbed rosette in his
| shoulder, bearing the distinguishing
colors of the breeder from whose es-
tate he has been furnished. The horns
of the bull are cased In leather with
rounded buttons at each tip to prevent
his goring the horse as is done in the
Spanish fights. The horseman is pro-
vided with a short barbed lance, some
what longer than the usual banderillas,
and his object Is to provoke the charge
of the bull. In the course of which lie
must plant his barbed lance between
| the shoulders of the animal withou
either himself or his horse being
touched by the bull II this is done
successfully the head of the lance
breaks away, remaining In the bulls.
shoulder. while the staff remains In
the hands of the horseman, who dash es
across the ring, drawing after him a
brilliant string of small silk flags which
have been concealed In . bomb at the
head of the lance. Three lances are al
lowed to each horseman, and the plac-
ing successfully OF all three, without
horse or rider being touched by the
BULL constitutes a perfect performs
ance
Then the capinhas, who correspond
to the Spanish bandarilleros, approach
| tue Duil ol FlQot anu cHucdVOF TO place
their two bandarilhas In the bulls
shoulders. After this has been accom-
plished and the Infatuated Animal he IS
messomewhat exhausted by ipnuin-
cradle charges back and forth across
the ring. the comedy element OF the
bNll fight, peculiar to Portugal, COM
mehces fifth the appearances In the ring
of the Mocos de Forcado--a Group Of
gayly. dressed men with padded leather
breaches, and great cummerbunds of
leather about their waists, whose duty
1t is to face and receive the charge OF
the bull. throwing TIL emselves between
his horns and grasping him at the me
time firmly about the neck to prevent
his, tossing them high in the air. When
one has successfully placed himself:tn
this position, the others rush upon the
bull and lay hold Of him by the TALL.
| legs, and horns. TO prevent the gentle
man in the uncomfortable position be-
tween the horns Of the bull from being
dashed to- death agatnst the barrier.
When the bull has bsen brought to q
fall stop ana tn succeeetul meco has