Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1874 — A Spanish Bull-Fight. [ARTICLE]

A Spanish Bull-Fight.

A special correspondent of . the London Daily Tdegmph, writing from Sant&nder on the sd irist., says*" It is somewhat of a relief from the constant narration of rite civil war, with its dailv-in-creaslng barborities, to be able to divert one’s attention to a different subject. The great festival of Santiago, in honor of Spain’s warrior patron Saint James, is being celebrated throughout the whole country by religious oeremonies and bullfights. Santander had another attraction —a cattle show—but that exceedingly interesting exhibition deserved a better fate than to be deserted for the horrors of the bullring. There is no disguising the fact that the Corrida de Tores is the ae plus ultra of delight of every Spaniard of whatever station, age or sex. So popular was this that tbc lowest price for admission was raised to twenty-one reales (four shillings and sixpence), and even at that every place was disposed of on each of the two days of the spectacle, Saturday and Sunday. The amphitheater holds 10,000 people, and, like all other bullrings, is open to the sky. If it were otherwise the heat would be insupportable. Six bulls were put to death each day, but so many horses were sacrificed on Saturday that few were left for Sunday Hie espadas, picadores and baaderillos were far from perfect in the exercise of their profession —the main object of the picadores apparently being to thrust their sorry steeds on the horns of the bulls, instead of, by their own dexterity, swerving them from the impending danger. Each bull killed three, four or five horses on the first day. If I dared to portray a few of the repulsive features of the scene, it would lessen the surprise felt at the horrors of the war now raging. The boxes are filled with ladies, many of whom brought their children, possibly upon Spanish principles, to harden their feelings against what they may deem false sentimentality. The Alcalde, with his brother municipal officers, presided* To their credit they would not comply with the reiterated shouts of the gods (who were in their more proper sphere, the bottom instead of at the top of the house) for more horses. This was less to be wondered at after one more than usually disgusting spectacle of a horse which a bull tossed up and literally disemboweled oelore the eyes of all; the even-then staggered Jialf way across the arena before it fell dead. The bulls in their turn suffered from the bungling of espadas; one was to be seen rushing wildly about the arena with a sword buried up to its hilt in its carcass, and it was only when from mere weariness it fell down that it was stabbed between its horns by a member of the troupe, who stealthily approached it from behind and gave the coup de grace when all other means failed. The whole company, with hardly an exception, shawed such signs of timidity and inexperience that tne spectators expressed their opinions in a most forcible manner by liberal showers of bottles, sticks and other missiles nearest at hand, at each fresh specimen of awkwardness. At Madrid, Seville and other large cities, more experienced operators prevent the ‘"exhibition of such scenes as 1 witnessed at Santander; but until Spain's favorite amusement ceases to interest her children she can never take her place amongst civilised nations, who are taught to look upon cruelty to the brute creation as a crime. One of the first things which strikes an Englishman on entering the country js the want of consideration which is everywhere noticeable. Overlading is the least and most common of the cruelties practiced. One cam only now use the voice of reason, but that is of little avail unstrengthened by the hand of the law. It is fervently to be hoped that the Bociety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will be able to induce the Government to permit it to extend its career of usefulness to this neglected people, and, by inducing them to be merciful to their beasts, to be merciful to their fellow-men.”