IN THE ARENA

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11393, 14 December 1922, Page 6

IN THE ARENA

A WONDERFUL SYSTEM THE BULL-FIGHT OF OLD SPAIN. TRIALS OF THE TOREADOR. To the average New Zealander the word ‘Spain” immediately suggests hull-fights when he does not associate the name with Spanish onions or cream. But though we are familiar with the fact that the Spanish national sport, is the bull-fight and know this almost from our cradles, there were few of uis who have more than the vaguest idea of how the bull-fight is ordered. In Wellington, at the present time, there is a iady who may he called u connoisseur in the matter of bullfights. She was found yesterday by a “New Zealand Times” reporter at the head of a steep flight of stairs in a central private hotel. And as she chatted amiably in a corner of her sittingroom it seemed impossible that she should be known to the general public as one of the Staig Sisters, and perform daring feat® which have caused the boldest men to hold their breath. However, her more timid sifters have their turn. For Miss Staig, though looping the loop on a motor-cycle presented no terrors to her, despite the fact that her handle-bare snapped once at Nottingham, and she fell sustaining concussion and smashing her shoulder, yet confesses that'she would uot mount a horse for all the wealth in Christendom. THE FASCINATION OF IT. “I’m afraid of them,” she ©aid, “honestly—remember once when I had to ride a horse in one of the bull rings in Spain—you know there the theatres go to the hull-rings to perform in the very hot weather. . . .” And that was how it started. From hull-rings to bull-fights is a distance measurable in six letters. Miss Staig admits having been horrified by the first fight which she attended. “But it grows on you, you know,” she said. “It has a queer fascination. And, apart from all the brutality of the thing, the toreadors are wonderful. In their own spheres those men are undoubtedly artists. FIGHTS EVERY SUNDAY. Each town in Spain has its bull ring, says Miss Staig, and this is controlled by an association which is directed by its president. It is the duty of tlie association to arrange fights; each town has its regular fight every Sunday, while special fights are arranged on other occasions, and in festal times there are as many as four fights a week. At each of these fights there are six bulls killed and for each three are engaged—two to each bull. The arenas are most elaborate having their own hospital and chapel attached. The hulls are brought in to the ring the night before the fight and are kept in absolute darkness until the time for the sport arrives. This has the desired effect of infuriating them, and as they aoo .freed and allowed in the arena their temper does not improve. Under a man-hole they trot, and as they pass by ‘a man with a long pole in hand plunges a dart into the beast’s left shoulder, so that each bull, as he enters thq arena, bears a knot of coloured ribbons, the insignia of his brcodei. And the breeding of these animals is taken very seriously. All through Andalusia it is impossible to obtain a drop of cow’shnilk as all tho animals are kept for breeding. And the massive black beasts which are driven away to their doom, following the tinkling hells of two old cows which form the vanguard, are of fine blood. 'HOW THEY FIGHT. In the arena the bull pauses, blinded by the sudden blaze of light. Then he catches sight of one of his tormentors waving a red cloak in the centre of the arena, and with terrific force Ihe hurls himself at the offending object. Then came the picadors They are part of the troupe of the toreador who is to kill the bull. At the signal from the president they ride into the arena on wonderful blood horses, gaily clad in lace, silks and satins, and with remarkable plumed hats. Each carries his brace of bandilleros, the 'barbed javelin, swathed near the blade with coloured paper, in which are tiny birds hearing the Spanish colours each held captive by the feet. The picadors duty is to affix in the bull a number of these handilleros or javelins, and as they do so, and their horses wheel, the birds flutter free all over the public benches and the people fight desperately to capture one of thpmr THE MATADORS. Next the matadors, or cloakrnen, advance to bait tlie hull, and he is turned upon the horses. Six old horses are being led round the arena by the runnere. Each of these _ animals has been condemned; bofore it enters the ring, each iis> under the death sentence, and has been sold - for this, the last purpose of the Spanish horse. The infuriated bull, once he sees the horses is allowed to wreak his will upon them. The object in this is to tire him, to even up the contest between him and the toreador. Again a certain time is allowed. At the end of this, whether he has touched a horse or not, the trumpets blow and the toreador goes forth to kill. And all this must 'be done within twenty minutes. FOR THE KELL. A valiant race these toreadors, living by the skill of brain and quiokness of foot and eye, abstemious and care-ful-living during the season. They go to wait their chance for the kill, when the bull has both fore-feet thrown before him and his head bowed, so that the shoulder-blades are opened and the way clear for a plunge of the sharp sword deep into his heart. The toreador is arrayed in the lightest and most expensive of silks. Next his skin he wears antiseptic cotton-wool, for tlie hull’s horns are poisonous, and this is the only means of defence allowed him. His work is the work of an artist, his life is literally in his hands. Belmonti. one of the greatest of Spanish toreadors, was killed at tho age of 27, after fighting for nine years, an exceptional length of time. Sooner or later each toreador meets his end, a momentary delay, a slip of the foot, a stroke of the sword missed, and the end is upon him. And hi© death is a fearful one. But in the meantime ho is rich, renowned, honoured. “WOULD ADORE A CHINAMAN.” “The Spaniards would adore a Chinaman if he could kill bulls for them,” sold Miss Staig. The biggest men in the land receive as much as 4000 and 5000 pesetas a fight (in English money, from £IBO to £175). Not much for risking one’s life twice over (each man must kill two bulls) when you consider that, the toreador has to keep his own troupe, matadors, picadors and runners. And «if he fails to kill his hull ho is handed over to the police. For the money is. paid over to him before

I the hull-fight, and ho has failed to keep life part of tho contract. FABULOUS PRICES. The prices paid at some fights are fabulous. When the great Ganerro made his debut, at which, the King and Queen of Spain and the Queen-Mother were present, relates Miss Staig, ohe paid 35 pesetas (about 235) for a seat. And similar prices could be had whenever Joeelita or Gomez cur aaiy of tho great toreadors were under engagement. Not long ago Joaelita, another great fighter, met his end. The season for the fight® cammenoea at Easter and continues until late in the year, September being a particularly big month. Tho toreadors come to the front just as do artiste in other lines. They have, first of all, tiheir chances at the amateur contests when they are permitted to kill the young bulls of eighteen months (large enough in all conscience, says our informant); and are followed round tlie country by agents searching for ' good talent. Should a bull refuse to flight the picadors will use the fire-handillero which is lighted, its shaft of which being covered with fireworks all the way up, which explode and madden the bull. They love a good fiaht. “The applause whioh a toreador receives is nothing to that whioh is showered upon a bull. which. makes a good stand,” said Miss Staig finally. “At the hack the butcher is in attendance to buy the dead bull, inclusive of its hooves; and then —the scramble to buy seme of this meat of the bull which made sruch a fine stand. The Spaniards are a wonderful pleasure-loving race; but !he odds in the hull-fight are not all on the toreador’s side, I can tell you.”