The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-18


 carrying banners; with each group was a band playing gaily. Others carried over their shoulders sticks with hand kerchiefs bound en-loaded with loaves of bread, meat sausages, and bottles of wine that looked like hams wrapped in a cloth. And all of them were danc- ing and whirling and jumping to the music of their bands-an endless stream of whirling deryishes in. gay colors
 As we walked to the arena l caught my first glimpse of the real color ot the bull fight as I saw few picadors (the men who ride the horses) riding across the square in their brlIhant costumes and flat hats with round crowns and pompOns on the side. we were shown to our places in the arena and was trying to absorb and take in the extraordinary sight in front Of me when a great shout went up or ''Belmonte, Belmonte," and then yeiis, whistles, applause growing into wild enthusiasm. I had almost forgot that the greatest of Spanish bull fighters was a member of our party. Three times Belmonte was forced to get up and bow, for the moment he would sit down the enthusiasm would be- come enormous. Only while the bull fights were actually going on did they take their eyes off him. The rest of the time the huge crowds seemed to stand up, staring at him as though he was their god.
 The arena, Roman in appearance, with collonaded walks back of the seats. was packed with an endlessly moving crowd fans waved and figured danced in their seats. Many of the men never stopped dancing even dur ing the fights, their own music play ing for then. There were only few women with mantillas and high combs, but I am told that in San Sebastian and Seville one sees many more later in the season.
 At 5 80 D. m. the president of the fete entered his box, and two brilliantly dressed men on fine horses came into the arena to announce formally the starting of the fights. They then rode out and came back leading all the par ticipants, who parade across the arena, made their bow to the presl-@ dent, and made their exit. To one who had never seen anything like 1t. it was an amazingly beautiful sight Living in very modern America it is difficult to realize that such wealth of d the Spaniards.
 First into the arena came two Por tuguese, father and son, Cavaliers al Tauro, which means that they kill the bull while they are on horseback. These cavaliers have beautiful horses which they must train for years. Back of them came the Picadors, on their poor pathetic horses, the tragic, horrible vic tins of the fight; then, the toreadors wearing their brilliantly colored cloaks over their suits. Finally came two pairs of mules decked out with red tassels and red and gold blankets driven by six men in red and white. These are to drag out the bulls after they gre killed.
 The first attraction was the caval iers, helped by the toreadors, for no two men could kill bull entirely alone, without others to aid in tiring him out. This I enjoyed thoroughly, for no one was hurt. It was fascinating to watch the toreadors whirling their coats in front of the bull, and, it seemed, miraculously lodging him. Ii was like some charmingly gracelfui dance, and one almost forgot that with one false step or the misjudge ment of an inch, the man would be killed or horribly injured.
 Having successfully killed the bull, the son then came into the arena alone. Again it was beautiful to watch the splendid horse and rider, whirling, turning, galloping in front of the charg ing bull. Unfortunately. once the rider misjudged the distance, the toreador could not attract the bull with his cloak, and the horse received bad gore from the angry bull. This did not affect him then, however. and the bull was eventually killed
 I breathed a sigh of relief, for it had not seemed as brutal and gory a spectacle as I had feared. But be- fore the next fight was over I changed my opinion, for I had learned the worst and had been as terrified and revolted as I had feared