CALL OF THE RING

Evening Star, Issue 21823, 12 September 1934, Page 13

CALL OF THE RING

FAMOUS TOREADOR BREAKS HIS OATH One of the most accomplished and daring Spanish matadors, Juan Belmonte, recently reappeared in the arena at Mimes at the ago of forty-two, after seven years’ absence (says the Paris correspondent of the London ‘ Mornihg Post ’). His admirers flocked from far and near to see the great artist of the bull ring. The Spanish Ambassador to Great Britain, Scnor Ramon Perez de Ayala, the Spanish painter, Seno'r Znloaga, himself an amateur “ torero,” and enthusiasts of the corrida from all over Spain wore there. Belmonte, in spite of his long absence from the ring, bad not lost his nerve or adroit grace. Twice he was tossed by the bull of famous pedigree, but he was immediately on his feet again, facing his opponent and within a few inches of his horns. Belmonte surpassed himself with his famous trick of passing the “capa” over the bull’s horns and the, banderillas and with other ring strategies of rare merit, before finally killing the bull. Ho was given a great ovation by the crowd. After the fight he admitted that when he was tossed by the bull he thought it was his last hour. Juan Belmonte yielded to his wife’s pleadings seven years ago after he had been nearly gored to death in the ring, and swore before her and priests that he would give up his dangerous profession, adding: “What you ask of me is more cruel than the horns of a bull.” He has broken his oath, not because the needs the money—he is comfortably off—but because “ bull fighting is in my blood.”