| Show t A Favorite Sport in Mexico THE large Plaza in front of the old church of Guadalupe in El Paso Del DelNorte N Norte now Norte-now now orte-now now called Juarez Juarez has has been changed from its serene and peaceful condition into a noisy bustling amphitheatre amphitheatre amphitheatre theatre where hundreds of people sit watching that bloody and degrading sport the bull The fight has already begun and the bull a beautiful specimen of strength and courage is standing bleeding from many wounds near the center of the arena his nostrils wildly distended and his eyes ees glowing with the fire of anger For an instant only does he stand thus then with a bellow like a roar of thunder thunder thunder thun thun- der he charges straight for one of the F picadores mounted men men The picador is on a beautiful black horse somewhat protected by a leather armor but this offers little resistance to those merciless horns As the bull approaches the picador tries to avoid him but it is useless In Inan Inan Inan an instant the bull buries his horns in inthe inthe inthe the horses horse's body and with a bellow that can be heard above the tumultuous din of the cheering spectators rises upon his hind feet lifting horse and rider from the ground as easily as he would a child Then with a mighty toss he throws his victims to the earth Again and again he gores his defenceless defenceless defenceless defence defence- less adversaries and a fearful scene ensues The excitement of the spectators is isnow isnow isnow now wrought up to its highest pitch The native men women and children gloat over the sight of so much blood while here and there some poor tourist has fainted at the horrible sight How the picador escapes is a miracle but after a while the bull is enticed away by byone byone one of the hearers cape and the fallen horseman is helped out of the bloody writhing mass seemingly unhurt But see The bull flies down the arena in hot pursuit of the who runs for his only place of escape the high board fence which surrounds the arena The stillness of death reigns throughout the enclosure Not a sound J can be heard save the rapid thud of feet and the low growling of the bull as he gains on his fleeing foe Faster and faster they go The man can hear the bull within a few feet of him He can almost feel the hot breath of the beast upon his lIis neck One second more and he will be safe But alas He is one second too late He feels a racking pain shoot through his body hears a grinding and crackling as the ruthless horns pierce through flesh and bone then everything grows dark before before him and through this darkness millions of stars are passing He tries to call for water but only a groan groan- escapes him He gasps for breath then all is a blank i Without a a pang of remorse the heartless heartless heartless heart heart- less crowd has watched the bull gain upon the doomed man saw saw saw- him tossed high in the air and watched him fall fallback fallback fallback back into the arena dead Then a a mighty shout of applause rends the airas air airas as the spectators gloat over the sickening spectacle Such is a scene from one of Mexico's favorite amusements which would probably probably probably pro pro- bably equal in horror any of the gladi- gladi combats of ancient Rome La Treb Nella |
