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.