BULL-FIGHTERS

Evening Star, Issue 19764, 14 January 1928, Page 22

BULL-FIGHTERS

BOY TOREADORS THE RAGE IN MEXICO SKILL AND AUDACITY. Bull-fighting, of course, i.s the supreme sport of the Spaniard, whether in Spain or Mexico. Considering the dangerous and sanguinary nature of the bull-fighting profession, one might innocently think that it was something to bo exclusively practised by full-grown men (states the ‘ Literary Digest’). But, strange to say, the most popular bull-fighters in Mexico to-day are two little boys. Manuel Bienvenidra is thirteen and little brother Jose is eleven. On the days they fight, writes Clare Ousley, in ‘ The .World Traveller,’ the huge Mexico City hull-ring is packed to its full capacity of thirty thousand—something it takes the greatest toreadors to do. As we are told: — When the boys, dressed in the conventional costumes of bright silk and heavy gold braid, come out at the head of their cuadrilla for the usual parade around the ring before the fight, a stupendous roar of enthusiasm greets them. And during the rest of the afternoon, when they are parrying the charges of the bulls, first with quick, graceful swirls of the cerise-lined capes, and later with the smaller muleta, that sinister little red cloth which hides the steel sword, the roar of those thirty thousand aficionados can be heard all_ over that part of tho town. The skill and audacity of the Bmnvenida youngsters has captured the Mexicans, always receptive to that vicarious thrill which comes to the safelv Erotected ringside spectator at a fanlight. Manuel and Jose are quick and supple and often foolhardy. They do tricks which no mature fighter would ever think of risking. They look, from the higher seats in the ring, like midgets open to the charge of monstrous beasts, although the bulls they fight are smaller than the average, since obviously the boys are not tall enough or strong enough to tackle full-grown animals. They dart about with lightning speed under the very nose of the infuriated bull; the horns graze their gaudy gold braid; they stroll nonchalantly away, the red cloth dragging behind them; they pull the bull’s tail; they grab the horns; they kneel, muleta in hand, before the charge of the bull, deflecting the angry beast with a slight motion of the cloth and an almost imperceptible change of the body to the side; they grimace and gesture to the spectators; their favorite-trick is the “ pass of death,” a wickedly dangeront business which has caused the death of many an overly audacious matador. They play boldly and recklessly. They are born actors and they are born bullfighters. And the crowds adore them. CAREER COMMENCED. - These boys come by their art naturally enough, it seems. Papa Bienuaoida, a groat matador in Spain

in his day, but a couple of wounds persuaded him to retire. He went into business, and ho did not do so well. One day the Mayor, of Seville called and asked him whether his two sons would be allowed to fight at a coming charity fight, or corrida. The parents were astonished; but they learned that the boys had been playing at bullfighting _ in the parks until they had won a city-wide reputation. And, anyway, the hulls would bo small, and it would mean much money For the Bicnvenidas. So, after much discussion and the setting of a high price on the parents’ permission, “ Manuel and Jose fought the bulls in the charity corrida, and Seville went mad over them, and the fame and fortune of the family was assured.” Continues the writer in ‘ The World Traveller ’ The day that Manuel and Jose first fought publicly, Mama Bienvenida looked at their youngest brother, still in pinafores, and made up her mind that he at least would never take up so dangerous a career. But as enthusiasm for the two boy fighters increased, and as the house was constantly full of aficionados who talked of nothing but bulls and bull-fighting, the smallest son of all naturally aspired to a similar future. One day she decided that his ambition must he squashed once and for all, so she told Papa Bienvenida to take the boy out and let him try to fight a yearling, feeling sure that after ho was badly trampled he would not bo so enthusiastic the sport. But the result was not as Mama Bienvenida planned. He killed his bull. And now, although only nine years old, still to young to enter the ring, he is accounted the best fighter of tho three. Poor Mama Bienvenida I ENORMOUS FEES.

After their first appearance,, engagements came thick and fast for Manuel and Jose. At first they were paid five thousand pesetas for every light. Their fame spread rapidly, and they were known throughout Spain. A promoter telegraphed tor an engagement in San Sebastian. Papa Bienvenida had decided by that time that five thousand pesetas was not enough. And when he wired his terms to the San Sebastian promoter, that amazed person replied: “I do not want to buy your sons.” But he accepted the terms, and after that the Bienvenida family got twelve thousand pesetas for all their lights. They became so popular that they took all the patronage away from the older toreadors. Tho crowds expected from the grown-up toreadors the same exciting tricks shown them by the Bienvenida boys. And the grown-up toreadors couldn’t deliver. It was a bad business. So the grown-up toreadors got busy, put political machinery to working, and had a law passed prohibiting boys under fifteen years of age to fight. After that there was nothing for them to do but search for new worlds to conquer. So they crossed the border into' Southern France, and from there they came to Mexico. The Mexican promoters considered their terms absurd, and refused to have anything to do with them. So Papa Bienvenida bought a few bulls of his own, rented the bull-ring, advertised the affair well, and after the startling success of the performance the promoters knuckled

under. Now tho hoys receive twelve thousand pesos (£1,200) every time they fight. From this Papa Bienvenida allows them each one peso (fifty cents) a day for pocket-money. Tho rest he puts in the bank. Their yearly income is about £60,000 When the boys fight Papa Bienvenida is always in the ring with them, capo in hand, ready to rush to their assistance. And because of their daredeviltries he is frequently forced into action. One afternoon Jose was tossed by a bull. Jose wasn’t used to such treatment, and he rushed at the bull without capo or sword, ready to grapple with the beast barehanded. Papa Bieuvenida grabbed him and saved him from being gored, but Jose, instead ot appreciating this paternal_ attention, kicked and hit furiously in a most unfilial fashion.

Jose insists that he is the host bullfighter. because he was born in Seville, while Manuel was born in Madrid.