MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. BULL-FIGHT IN SPAIN. 51 the bull; at this a murmur of applause fixed his blood-stained eye on the group ran through the theatre. it sheltered, drove his shaggy head against it, as if determined to prostrate it or dash out his own brains. Foiled in this effort, he plunged toward the door, near which the Matadore or Deathman had already taken his stand. The next Picadore was more fortunate. He succeeded, after a desperate struggle, in turning the bull and saving his horse; a feat which drew forth long and loud plaudits. Of the six horses which he next encountered, two were killed, and the rest gored and thrown, and so far disabled as to be with difficulty led off alive, or left pawing the earth in agony, making desperate but unavailing efforts to rise. The trumpets again sounded, the Picadores withdrew to their stations, and the Bandarallieros advanced, each grasping a brace of barbed darts, whose long heavy shafts were enveloped in loose net-work. Running quickly up till they came nearly to his horns, they let fly their darts, with intent to fix them firmly into the neck and shoulders of the bull; but their first attempt was a failure, and the assailant withdrew amid the hisses of the spectators. It indeed seemed to be a feat, the right execution of which required strength, courage and skill. At one time a dart would strike a bone and recoil, with its barb bent or broken; at another so slightly infixed as to drop out by a single shake of the bull's brawny neck. He was now wrought up to a pitch of rage and torture little short of downright madness, and ran wildly about the arena, goring and tossing aside such of the dead horses as lay in his way, and putting to flight the whole troop of chulos and dartmen. At length he stopped short before one of the outposts, and having for an instant He was a short, thickset, sinewy, wellmade man; a red cloak was on his left arm; in his right hand he held a long slender sword. At the blast of the trumpet he stepped forth, and having saluted the Governor addressed himself to his task. Approaching the bull, with a slow but firm step, a watchful but determined eye, he so placed himself as to be able by a slight movement to the right to receive his horns on the cloak, and having pointed his sword at a part of the neck just forward of the right shoulder, awaited the shock. It came; the weapon failed to take effect, and was hurled, as the bull sprang past him, into the air. A murmur of displeasure ran through the assembly, and cries were heard of fool! coward! away with him! He seemed not to heed them, but with a composed look resumed his position and presented his sword. The bull rushed on, the blade was buried to the hilt in his vitals, and he fell with the blood spouting from his mouth, and was instantly despatched by the stroke of a knife in his neck. The trumpets now sounded, the door at the opposite extremity of the pit was thrown open, and four spirited horses, richly caparisoned, sprang in abreast, and were drove at full speed, jingling their head and horns of the bull, and he was dragged out at a gallop. bells, across the arena. The shaft of forehead, breast, and sides, bathed in their traces was then made fast to the blood. Nothing daunted however, one of the Picadores on that side rode up and presented the point of his lance. His horse was instantly gored, lifted from his feet, thrown with his rider across the back of the bull, and thence headlong to the ground. Of the five horses which he afterwards attacked, three were killed on the spot. Assailed by the dartmen till his shoulders bristled with their shafts, he was at length encountered by the sword of the matadore, who at the first trial pierced his heart. The dead horses having in like manner been removed, others were brought in; and notwithstanding the crippled state of the Picadores, they were instantly mounted and galloped to their stations. The trumpets once more sounded, the door opened, and in bounded the second bull. As if apprized of the fate of his fellow, and determined to avenge it, he did not wait for the attack of the Chulos, but sprang furiously at the horse of the nearest Picadore, gored him under the right flank, and threw him with such violence against the barrier, that he fell and expired without a struggle. His rider, covered with blood and dust, his pikestaff broken, his sombrero crushed, was dragged out from under him, and borne off; whether dead or alive I was unable to learn. A second and a third horse were in quick succession and in like manner despatched; their riders grasping their pikestaves with both hands, driving the points of them into the breast or shoulders of the bull, and struggling with all their might to repel or turn him, till hurled headlong from their seats, or with violence against the barrier. Several women now retired, and one fainted. From the total overthrow of the combatants on this side of the arena, the bull now crossed to the other, a frightful yet pitiable object; his nostrils spread, his eyes flashing, his horns dyed and his Six bulls were afterward let in, and in like manner encountered and slain. The number of horses killed was eighteen, and of twenty more, the greater part were led out more dead than alive. The courage of the fifth bull seeming to flag, the nettings of the darts were loaded with fireworks, and he bounded madly about the arena, astounded and tormented by their explosions, and enveloped in a cloud of flame, sparkles and smoke. Here ends the description of that most unmerciful entertainment, a Bull-Fight, still in practice among a people calling themselves Christians. STYLE. Soon after the publication of Bancroft's History, a young lady was found reading it. After the usual topics of praise were exhausted, she was asked if she did not greatly admire the style? Reviewing the incidents in her memory, she replied,' The style? the style? O sir, I am not come to that yet!' I WILL now proceed in a regular soldier-like drill, and, hoping you have been through the forty-nine exercises before given, go on to 50. I think, boys, you may now venture on this exercise, though I must tell you it requires some care, and should not be tried without having performed what I have already shown you. With diligence then there is no danger. Attention! Hands on hips-feet close-spread out your legs gradually as far as you can -try and place the palms of your hands flat on the ground between the legs draw up your legs slowly and evenly. Practise then the 47th and 49th exercises only with the leg stretched out behind in all these cases, keeping your body perfectly upright. 52. One more. Place hands on hips and run forward on your toes, while the knees are kept perfectly straight. 53. This next is a sort of Chinese ko-tow or knock-head, which, by the by, I hope no freeman will ever submit to. Fold your hands behind you, bring the right foot forward as far as you can, bend the right knee, and try to touch the floor with your forehead, like this. up 6 time, making in all three prostrations and nine thumps, on which the music strikes the tune of Subjugation manifested! a glorious subjugation! A man much about court in China would require a skull as thick as a buffalo's. knocks again, and afterwards a third 57. Here's an old friend with a new face; what we used to call French and English when I was a school-boy, but nevertheless it is a good exercise, if performed with good humour. Each one take his man--fold your arms-elbows close to body--hop on right leg-try to bring your opponent out of his position by a blow of your right shoulder against his right shoulder. This ceremony is required not merely in the imperial presence, but on receiving any message or donation of broken victuals from the emperor; and the Dutch embassy (whom the Chinese lodged in a stable, and treated with every indignity) actually performed the Ko-tow for some half-gnawed bones, in 1795, withou gaining one single point by their abject humility. 54. Feet close-hands on hips-now rise on your toes, and jump completely round, first to the right, then to the left. 58. Suppose we try the 56th exercise ; only we'll stretch out the right leg as far as we can behind, and touch the ground with the right knee. 59. Let us have another hop. Fold arms as before, and let each try to break_ his opponent's position, by hopping on the left leg, and hitting him with the left shoulder. 60. Hands on hips-bend gradually forward, at the same time stretching out the left leg behind till the head, body, and leg form a horizontal line. Now stand on the left leg, and perform the same with the right. THE TREE WITH GOLD LEAVES. Leaving the little tree quite bare. The little tree speaks up distress'd: I'm quite asham'd before the rest, is not to make posture-masters nor tum- He pockets them all, and away does fare, Might I bring one more wish to pass, I would have my leaves of the clearest glass. The little tree sleeps again at dark, And now its glass leaves you may mark ;- The little tree says: Now I'm glad, There came up now a mighty blast, easily preserved, when the mind is agree- No tree in the wood is so brightly clad. Good bye for the present; the next time I see you, I shall have the parallel bars quite ready. It swept among the trees full fast, There lay the leaves of glass Each other tree remains I would have of those good green leaves good store. Again asleep is the little tree, And early wakes to the light; He is covered with green leaves fair to see,- And says, Now I am all nicely drest, And now with udders full She sees the leaves, nor makes much talk, The little tree again is bare, I would never scold nor complain. The little tree slept sad that night, And all the trees in a roar burst out, |