The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1923-02-23
LETTER FROM BALBOA.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE oNE)

udys ueSdn the Gay aIter we ar
rived. There were bull fights,
horse racing, Carnival in the
evening, etc., every day.
We went to the bull fight the
first day, but never showed the
least SYMPTOMS of fainting at
the revolving sight. Aren't you
proud of us? But perhaps you
have formed your judgment too
soon. This fight was like
nothing Of which we had read.
The feld-not a ring-must
have been at least an acre in ex-
tent, and when we arrived there
were several hundred men and
boys out there.
All at once we were Mortified
to observe bloody fight going
on between two big ruffians.
There were policemen standing
right there, too. Soon another
list fight attracted our attention.
They were going on all over
the held. A man sitting below
us in sort of bleachers effect
was called to get down and
tight. He'was loath to go but the
crowd seized him and pulled
him down, two policemen assist 4
ing. A Costa Rican who was
sitting in our box next TO the
residents, by the way) ex-
planned that at any other time
1t costs twenty-five colonies to
fight, but that during the fiesta
the police have no power in the
Rathdrum Tribune-Galley 2.
bull ring except to see that no |
knives are used. If a man has y
grudge against another, he
merely says, 1'll meet you in
the bull ring" and so the score |
holds over, perhaps a year.
But that was the bloodiest
part of the spectacle. We asked
a man when the crowd would
leave so that the bull fight could
begin. He was astonished at our
Ignorance. "Why they all stay
there and play with the bull
he said. "They like it," And so, |
indeed, they did.
After while bull was let
in from a side gate. He didn't
want to play. All he wished was
to get back into his corral, but
of course the crowd wouldn't al
low it. They waved bright col
ored cloaks and banners at him.
and shouted. So he finally got t
out on the field and would oc- q
casionally make a dash for g
somewone who was usually t
quick enough to dodge. Three I
5aily dressed toreadors strolled
lround, sometimes playing, too. I
But it was this mad crowd out i,
n the arena which played a o
'eal part in the game.
Nine bulls were released I'M II
I'll, generally only one at time, o.
tut sometimes two. Some of n
hem were more playful than i,
he first, and then things were q
more stirring. The crowd in the
rand stand (which was about "
III four sides of the field ~
heered nightly whenever OF
ome0ne made an especially II
laring attack on the creature
+ tried to ride it. Some times v.
IAN was bowled over, but the st
nimafs attention was quickly m
rawn to some other waving nj
CART and the man had a chance g,
pick himself up. The day iaf tb
sr we were there, a man was ST
illed. 1t is against the law to n,
i'll the bull. I'll
We attended the grand New
ears ball at the National co
heater, the great social event q
the year. 1t was very beauti- O,
Il, for the costumes were. love- RI
and the National Theater is, tb
IT its size, one of the finest in no
le world. 1t was erected at a
'st Of million dollars, the an
oney being raised by placing "a
small export duty on coffee. A m,
Try unique thing about it is 90
e secret boxes, from which a 70,
rr,ol.4sool sc,f., u -