The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-08-23


wild or semi-wld cattle of the plains. Probably
the next step was the introduction of the bull
into an arena where the prowess or the knight
could be witnessed and criticised by his frenos
and rivals II the rider was endorsed. he endea'-
ored to kill the bull with his sword one mar
wells how he did it with scimtar; but possibly
by this time the Moors had adopted the straight
swords of their rivals. the Spaniards, with whom,
during intervals of peace they not infreQuently
held combined fiesta de toros, in which both
Christian and Moslem Wed in friendly rivalry at
the Staying of mighty bulls. To quote Mr. Abel
Chapman in "Unexpored SPAIN AT this Pc
Rod during the thirteenth and fourteenth CEN
turies the knight who, lance in hand, had been
hurled from the saddle might draw his sword and
kill the bull, his vassals being allowed to place
the bull (by def display Of colored cloaks) In a
position to facilitate the death stroke. Here
doubtless originated the art of playing the bull,
and incidentally sprang the professional bull
fighter" eed not quote Mr.. Chapman further.
as this Is sufficient to show the origin OF the
pro" matador, and the present decadence OF
the sport is not difficult to follow.
AS time went on, owing to opposition on the
part of kings and queens and popes. the arls-
tocracy of Spain gradually fell away from the
sport and the mounted spearmans portion or
the spectacle became of less and less Importance
as the knights withdrew from the contests. Thus,
in due course. we arrive at the CHASTITY farce OF
the present day, when the skullful rider, who
was If not disgraced at any rate poorly thought
of II his horse sustained damage in the contest,
Is replaced by the professional picador whose
sorry nag is never intended to escape the bulls
horns. AS the horsemans role in the show has
shrunk SO has the footman's part increased.
until we come to the highly paid matador Of the
present day. Though not much patronized by the
aristocracy or the army, and nOminally con-
demned by the church. yet bull fighting still re-
mains the sport Of the people, and consequently
of the press. Shooting, racing and polo nave
taken its place among the upper classes; but La
Corrida comes before everything in the popular
estimation. You may go to race meeting in
Spain and see English and French thoroughbred
horses English, French and Spanish Jockeys
fashionable and crowded paddock, police and
troops to keep the course-but no crowd to be
kept In order!
So much for the importance Of the sport OF
bull-fghting; now as to the animals employed
in it and the method Of training them. 1t must
first of all be borne in mind that the Spanish
fighting bull is a very different animal from the
big stolid and solid shorthorns and Herefords
which in this country. Like the race
horse he is an artificial creature, bred by selec
ton for generations for one purpose. namely, to
fight and can assure the reader that. with every
circumstance against him. he will fight, from the
fall of the flag" to his last convulsive effort to
get on his feet again when stricken to the heart
In various parts Of Spain there are many stud
farms, which keenly compete with each other
IN producing the best fighting stock. That OF Don
Miura is perhaps at present the most famous
Fighting bulls in appearance not unlike the
old English longhorn breed on a smaller scale:
but as they vary in appearance, they might
equally be likened to Jersey bulls with longer
horns) or black Welsh bulls. They vary In color.
as these comparisons suggest-white with black
spots and patches, white with red spots and
patches. or dark purple brown with light muzzle
iubf trip dnUn he
backbone (This last variety is said to be de-
scended directly from the Aurochs.) The most
common of all is Jet black all over; at least |
personally have most of this color. The
early days of calfdom spent in luxurious
idleness on the plains, but at one year cid some
sort of trial is held believe. This | have not
personally witnessed, so ] cannot give any de-
tails. At two years old comes the second trial,
and of this l will endeavor to give a short de-
scription
personally witnessed tentadero (triaD
through glasses and from safe and fairly COM