The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-22
BULLFIGHTS ARE
MILD AND GENTLE
Provided You See Them in Portu-
gal, Where Bull Rings Are
Prevalent.

Toward evening we went to the
praca de Touros to see Portuguese
bull hght for bun rings are as preva-
lent In Portugal as golf links in Scot
land The Portuguese bull fight is
very different affair from the degen-
crate bun fight OF Spain, where the
cruel torture of poor and decreptt
old horses is provided to satisfy the
brutal thirst tor the sight of blood
and dying agonies which the Spaniard
demands. In Portugal the bun night
is q display OF high school horseman-
ship, and instead of the pathetic old
worn-out animals which are brought
into the Spanish buH ring to he bru-
tally torn TO pieces. the horses are
the finest animals in the country,
schooled TO obey the slightest wish of
the rider as conveyed by q touch Of
the bride, the knees or an inclina-
ton of the body, and the principal
concern of the rider is to see that his
horse is not even touched by the bull,
even tine slightest touch scoring a
point against him.
TruInpctS Flare.
The ceremony opens with the cor
tesias. A flare Of trumpets signals the
entrance Of the cavalieiros and their
8NtEllLAhi COMPANY VI Jun fi&iNSiS"
aThe cavalleiros. who are often gen
tlemen and not professionals, take
the place of the matadors in the Span
ish ring. bat are beautifully mounted
on perfectly trained horses Instead If
being on foot. The cavalleiros then
perform a number of graceful evolu-
tons on their high school horses, sa-
luting the distinguished officianado.
who. seated in the central box, acts
as the master Of ceremonies and di-
4 rector Of the bull ring.
When their skiilful maneuvers arc
at an end the cavalletros ask permis-
sion IF the director to have the first
bull hrough into the ring. and having
selected one OF their number to en-
counter him, the others withdraw
charge of the bull. The gate Is then
pulled up and the bull rushes into
the ring, receiving as he enters a barb
cd roSette in his shoulder bearing the
distinguishing colors Of the breeder
from whose estate, he has been fur
nished. The horns of TIE bull are
/ cased In leather, with rounded buttons
at each tip 10 prevent his goring the
( horses, as is done in the Spanish fights
+ Has short Lance.
The h0rseman Ii provided with a
short harbed lance. somewhat longer
/ than the usual bandarillas, and his OBJ
| ject is to provoke the charge OF the
| huh. In the course Of which he must
| plant his barbed lance between the
shoulders of the animal without 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 dashes across
the ring. drawing after him a bril-
liant string Of small silk flags. which
have been concealed IN a bomb at the
head Of the lance.
Three lances are allowed to each
horseman. and the placing successful
ly Of ali three, without horse or rider
being touched by the bull, constitutes
"a perfect performance.
Then the Capinhas, who correspond
to the Spanish bandarilleros. approach
the bull on foot and endeayor to place
their two bandarilleros in the bulls
shoulders After this has been ac-
complished and the Infatuated animal
has become somewhat exhausted by
innumerable charges back and forth
across the ring. the comedy element of
the bull fight, peculiar 10 Portugal,
commences with the appearance in
the ring OF the Mocos de FORBADE
group q &sa*Aga dressed ifcfl with pad.
ded leather breeches, and great cum j.
merbunds of leather about their
waists. whose duty 1t is TO face and
receive the charge OF the bull, throw
ing themselves between his horns and
grasping him at the same time firmly
ahoat the neck to prevent his tossing
them high in the air
Dangerous Ride
When one has successfully placed
himself IN this position the others rush
upon the bull and lay hold OF him by
The tail. legs and horns to prevent
the GENTLEMAN in the uncomfortable
position between the horns OF the Duli
: from being dashed TO death against
the barrier When the bull has been
brought TO full stop and the sue
cessfui moeo has been released from
his somewhat embarrassing position,
the oabestros, or bell oxen. are cent
into this ring. and the bewildered bull
goes peacefully out with them. Then
the performance is repeated until six
or eight bulls have been baitea to the