The Raymer enterprise., 1913-08-21

sell and his horse "ft" pursued and speared the
wild or semIwild 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 II the rider was unhorsed, he endeav.
ored 10 kill the bull with his sword. One mar
wells how he did It with scimitar; but possibly
BY this time the M0ors had adopted the straight
swords OF their rivals the Span!ards, with whom,
during Intervals OF peace. they not lnirequenty
held combined fiesta de toros. In winch both
Christian and Moslem We'd In friendly rivalry at
the staying OF mighty bulls. To quote Mr., Abel
Chapman in "unexpored Spain: AT this pc
riod during the thirteenth and fourteenth cen
turics 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 lby deft display OF colored cloaksl In
position to facilitate the death stroke, Here
doubtless originated the art OF playing the bull.
and incidentally sprang the professional bull
fighter" | need 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 aris
tucracy OF Spain gradually fell away from the
sport and the mounted spearmans portion OF
the spectacle became OF less and less Importance
ms the knights withdrew from the contests. Thus
In due course. we arrive at the ghastly farce OF
the present day, when the skullful rider, who
was II not dsgraced 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 horseman's role in the show has
shrunk, so has the footmans part Increased,
until we come TO the highly paid matador OF the
present day. Though not much paronzed 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 30 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
bullhghtIng: now as TO the animals employed
In It and the method OF training them. II must
first Of all be borne In mind that the Spanish
fighting bull is n very different animal from the
big. stoid 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
circumstance against him. he will fight. from the
fall OF the flag" to his last conyulslve 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 n smaller scale,
but 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
and ears and light brown stripe down the
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 seen most OF this color Tho
early days OF calfdom are spent in luxurious
idleness on the plains. but at one year old some
sort OF trial Is held. believe. This have not
personally witnessed. 30 cannot give any do.
tails. At two years old comes the second trial.
and OF this | will endeayor to give short de-
scription.
I personally witnessed tentadero CtriaD
through glasses, and from a safe and fairly com.