The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1913-08-28
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self and his horse "fit,' pursued and speared the
wild or semi-wild cattle of the plains Probably
the next step was the Introduction of the bull
into an arena, where the prowess of the knight
could be witnessed and criticised by his friends
and rivals. If the rider endorsed, he endeav.
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 "Unexplored Spain' AT this Pc
Rod, during the thirteenth and fourteenth CEN
turtles, 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 deft display of colored cloaks) in
position to facilitate the death stroke. Here
doubtless originated the art of playing the bull,
and incidentally sprang the professional bull
fighter" l need not quote Mr.. Chapman further,
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 aris-
tocracy of Spain gradually fell away from the
sport, and the mounted spearmans portion OF
the spectacle became oftless 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 If 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 horseman's role in the show has
shrunk 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 have
taken Its place among the upper classes but La
Corrida comes before everything in the popular
estimation. You may go to a meeting in
Spain and see English and French thoroughbred
horses. English. French and Spanish Jockeys, a
fashionable and crowded paddock. police and
troops to keep the course-but 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 very different animal from the
big, stoid and solid shorthorns and Herefords
which we see 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 1.-The
fall of the flag" to his last convulsiye 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 are in appearance not unlike the
old English longhorn breed on smaller scale;
but as they vary in appearance, they might
equally be lkened 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
and and light brown stripe down the
backbone. (This last variety Is said to be de.
seconded directly from the Aurochs.) The most
common Of all is jet black all over; at least,
personally have seen most of this color. The
early days Of calfdom spent in luxurious
ideness on the plains. but at year old 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 will endeavor to give a short de-
scription.
personally Witnessed tentadcro (trjaD
through glasses. and from safe and fairly COM