The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1911-02-17

Writes Again from Old Mexico.
Writing from Houston. Texas. Mr.:
T. Clarence Erringer. formerly OF
Paris and now with one of the leading
automobile manufacturing companies
in the United States. sends the follow
ing interesting description of Iuarez.
its many sided attraction. its ball ring
and many other features of what IS
rapidly becoming one of the gayest
and most interesting cities in the
world. as far as it's sporting features
are concerned. MIR. Erringer says:
Houston, Texas-Dear B Say,
boy. if all the things that have not
been told about the gay life of Juarez.
Mexico. could get into::the public print,
it would create a sensation. London,
Paris. France. and Lexington. KY.
have been held up to 'he world as
leaders in the gay and festive games
of chance. etc. but Juarez Mexico. has
them all beat to a frazzel. and then
some.
n"Yon might as well expect people to
go to Rome and not try to have peep
at the Pope as tO.have them come to
Ell Paso, Texas, and not cross the Rio
Grande river to Juarez and have q look
at a real Mexican bull fight. 1t is one
of the sights, and nobody wants to
miss seeing at least one performance.
During the annual fiesta now in
progress the crowds headed that way
are unusually large, and men. women
and children, even, are eager to wit
ness bull fight.
ITO be able to live through a bull
fight and say that tyOu really enjoyed
it, one has to go prepared for the
worst and were fortified against all
feelings OF humanity.
1T looks inconsistent for the times
to see inside the fiesta grounds, in the
buildings and along the sidewalks like
at street fair. gambling tables of
every description piled thigh with
money while old and decrepit beggars
are hi lding out. grimy palms. asking
for just ''centavo." every few steps
you take.
AT the first sight of these money
laden tables. the thought to try to
make grab ana quick getaway hits
you like bomb shell, but Oh second
thought look at the dark-faced Next
cans standing on guard and the grim
prison walls up the street makes you
hurl iedly change yOlr train of
dollars are stacked in piles foot high
tables, keno, poker and all kinds of
contrivances for gambling. doing a
bigger business than free lunch
stand at the noon hour. THE man
who knows" keeps his hands and his
money in his pockets and stays ahead
of the game, while the poor sucker"
who lacks experience feeds the "vul-
tures."
AFTER q glance at all this uncon-
ventionality your blood begins to
tinRle with excitement. and you pass
on to the side show, where the cock
fight is going on, and you begin being
equal to seeing almost any old thing.
Once inside it sounds like early in the
morning. with all the cocks Growing a
grand chorus. The fight is short. but
exciting. After they tie the slash
ers" to the ROSTERS feet they put
them in the ring to do their little
stunts. Not cherishing any personal
grudge against each other they fail to
| show any particular antagOnism, until
| their trainers tar taliZe them by bring
| ing them face to face, and each gets a
| few pecks at the other to quarrel over,
then they are turned loose to do muir
der.
The winning fow, begin to crow
loudly as he sees his ring mate flop
over. close his eyes and let his life
blood flow out, which means money in
somebody's pockets, and money out of
the purse of the fellow who. was bet
ting the other way. The big crowd
files quickly out after the last event.
gesticulating and talking over their
" innings and losses IN true Latin
style. After this mild form of blood
shed as witnessed in the cockpit you
feel equal to witnessing the bull fight,
and proceed with the rest of the crowd.
We arrive at the bull ring, take our
seats and await the march of events.
The Mexican soldiers march in.
take their seats. and the Mayor of
Juarez and the judges are seen to ap-
pear in the boxes reserved for them,
and the big show. such as it lis, is on.
The Mexican band begins to play, the
gates of the Iarena .are thrown open.
and the glittering pageant of the
matador. his banderillos. picadors and
mOOZes enter.
The matador. or leading man had
on yellow silk pants, his waist was
fashioned to match. and was trimmed
with fringe and beads that tinkled and
jingled as he strutted forth His first
banderillO had his upholstery cut on
the same :lines,l except that his suit
was of gray silk with gold braid trim
mings. The next man chose royal
purple, and the fourth was clothed in
pea green. They wore thier hair braid
ed. with caps all of the same style and
color.
Next comes the 'steeds. ridden by
three picadors. Of all the0poor. skin
ny. dilapidated. down at the heel look
ing remnants of hOrsefesh you ever
saw these three tipped the scales.
They looked as if they had been lpiay-
ing hockey from the boneyard. But
what else could be expected, for from
80 cents to S4 is all they cost. They
were in the last stages of starvation
and were. nothing but continuation of
scars and wounds fromlbeing gOred by
The bulls in the ring If their internal