IN THE BULL RING
The bull is not a nice animal to deal with. It is often surly and savage, and few of us care to be in the same field with it. In some parts of the world its courage is made use of in a brutal kind of sport. In former times what was called bull-baiting was very common in England, and might be to-day only for the laws. A bull was driven into a closed-in place and dogs were sent in to fight with him. Sometimes, to make him furious, pepper was blown into his nose before he was set free.
At times a dozen or more dogs were sent in at once. At other times the bull was tied to a stake by a rope of some length, and bulldogs were set upon him, one at a time. They were trained to seize the fierce animal by the nose, which was called "pinning the bull." But the best fun to the lookers-on was when the bull lowered his head to the ground, caught a dog on his horns and tossed him a long distance away. Bull-baiting was kept up until 1835, when laws were passed to stop this cruel sport.
But bull-fighting, which has long been very common in Spain, is still kept up in that country. In ancient times fights between bulls and men were common in Greece and Rome, but in modern times they have been held only in Spain and its colonies. They may be seen to-day in the cities of Spain and Mexico.
As we have a baseball season in this country so they have a bull-fight season in Spain. In the city of Madrid it lasts from April to November, there being at least one fight every week. The fights are held in a kind of circus, with seats for 10,000 or 15,000 people, who have to pay well to see the brutal game.
There are three classes of men who take part in a bull-fight. The first of these are the "picadores." These fight on horseback, each of them with a lance. If the bull is a coward they crowd upon and kill it. If it is brave they often have to fight for their own lives. The bull may lift the poor horse on its horns or may throw the rider, who is sometimes killed.
Reproduced by Permission of the Philadelphia Museums
Carting Manila Hemp. Philippine Islands
When the picadore is in danger the second class, the "chulos," run in. They wear bright-colored cloaks and gay ribbons and draw the bull after them by waving their bright cloaks in his face. When the bull shows signs of being tired these men throw darts at him which stick into his neck. Some of these bear fire-crackers, the noise of which makes the bull furious.
Reproduced by Permission of the Philadelphia Museums
Moose in Harness. This is a Rare Use of this Great Deer-like Animal
Now the third man comes in, the "matadore." He is on foot and carries a sword, and in his left hand is a short stick with a piece of red silk tied to it. When the angry bull sees this red stick he rushes at it, for he hates anything red. Now the matadore has his chance. With one quick stroke he thrusts the sword into the animal between the shoulder-blade and the spine, driving it in to the hilt, and the poor bull falls dead.
Then a team of mules, gay with flags and bells, enter and drag out the dead bull, another is driven in, and the fight begins again. The horses and bulls are the chief sufferers, it being said that about 2500 bulls and 3500 horses are killed every year in the bull-fights of Spain. The horses used are poor creatures, only fit to end their lives in a bull-fight.
The people cheer the matadore for his victory; but they are quite as ready to cheer the bull that has killed his man. But it is a rare thing for a man to be killed in the fight, usually it is only the poor animals that suffer. The other nations of Europe and the people of this country do not like bull-fights. They look on them as cruel and unfit for civilized times. But the people of Spain love them and will not give them up.