The Washington times., 1911-09-04
2
SAMUEL H. MUS|CK
DECLARES SPANISH
BULLF|GHTS TAME
Believes They Are Totally
Devoid of All Ex-
Scitement.

The average bullfght conducted Ir
Funny Spain under the most auspicious
circumstances is almostP totally devoit
pr real excitement, accoyding to Samue
II. Musick, a former wasningtonian
bow in the Philippines.
On his most recent voyage to Uncl2
6am's latest possessions, Mr.. Musick
who is now superintendent of work.
bureau OF printing, at Manila, spent
teveral days in Spain. traversing that
land filed with sentiment and senoritas,
Romance and rare customs. His de-
bcription of a Barcelona bullfght, as
contained in a letter recently received
by a friend in Washington, Is unusually
graphic.
Mr.. Musick visited the bull ring be-
6ause 1t was necessary to witness one
bf those encounters, he said, before II
eould be really claimed that one had
been Spain and knew OF Spanish cus-
toms.
we followed the crowds to the bull
ting" Mr. Musick said in his letter
Everyone turned out for the affair
THE American circus is tame affair,
ks far as drawing the entire population
TO its doors is concerned.
The fights take place in a kind of
circus, called the Plaza de Toros, round
which the seats rise one above another,
like the steps of a stair, with tier
of boxes over them The Plaza is CA
pable of containing from 10000 to l2,0O0
people, VINO pay a high price of ad-
mission, considering the rate of wages
In Spain; and all go attired in their
best to the spectacle. The horses ell
| aged in the conflicts are poor. worth
less old plugs that have served their
time in the plow or street car. The
men employed in the fight are generally
those who have been bred to 1t as
profession.
"The bullfight may said to be be a
tragedy in three acts. The principal
Gores;' in the second, the 'chulos' are
the only actors; the third and last act
hevolves solely on the 'matador.' The
'picadores' are all mounted, dressed
like Spanish knights of the oIden time,
and armed with a lance. They take up
their position in the middle of the cir
Gus opposite the bull stalls. The 'chu-
los who are on foot. are gay with
ribbons and wear very bright-colored
cloaks.
They distribute themselves in the
space between the barriers. The ma
tador, or chief combatant, Is also on
foot: He is handsomely dressed. and
holds in his right hand a naked sword;
In the left the 'muleta,' a small stick.
with a piece of scarlet-colored silk at
tached. On a sign given by the chief
magistrate, a bull is let out from the
stalls: the 'picadores' stand ready in
the arena awaiting his charge. with
q brave bull. they find all their skill
requisite in acting on the Defensive
with a cowardly one. they act on the
offensive:' and should their stabs be
tneffectual in rousing the animal to the
requisite fury, the poor beast is hooted
hv the crowd and ultimately taken out
Of the arena. Whenever a horse Is
tilled, the rider betakes himself to flight:
and when either the above casualty
happens or a 'picador' is thrown, the
'chulos' rush in and attract the bull
by their .cloaks, saving themselves, II
reed be. by feaptng. voyer The palisade
which incloses the circus.
AT the sa sane=time. another 'picador'