LIFE IN SPAIN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 30, 28 September 1931, Page 6

LIFE IN SPAIN

STILL FOND OF BULL FIGHTING A WELL-PAID PROFESSION. Spain still loves its bull-fighting At any rate that is the impression one gets after a talk with Mr H. S. Jenkins, of Palamos, Gatalonia, who is making a world tour in the interests of his flrm, the Armstrong Cork Gompany. People turn up in their thousands to these exhibitions, which are held regularly — often on a Sunday, the busiest day of the week in Spain. The flglits are staged in a huge open-air arena, surrounded by rows and rows of tiered seats, Mr Jenkins told a Christchurch Sun reporter, and there are generally "capacity" houses. The prices of admission range from about 6d in the baclc rows to about 10s for a front-row seat, and the crowd gets its money's worth. Intense Excitement. i Three toreadors usually stage the performance, and each has two bulls to encounter. "You cannot help feei- ; ing excited as you wait for the show lo start," said Mr Jenkins. "As the toreadors parade round the ring first. the old heart starts to pump violently, and when the first bull enters the ring the feeling of intense excitement almost chokes you. One can hardiy wonder that these Spaniards get as enthusiastic as they do at a bull- ! flght." j j Th.e bulls are selected with very ! great care. Only a very few of the wealthy landowners can afford to rear 1 them. Tliey are allowed to roam vasl ! tracts of country until they become 1 wild and almost unmanageable, and J when one is wanted for a fight they ! are herded up and the most likely- j loolcing one — that is, one that takes : the most furious exception to a red llag being waved in front of it — is , * chosen. 'They are usually all puro- ! hred bulls. 1 The toreadors usually have a large following of the public, and they earn anything from 20,000 to 70,000 pese tas for the season, which lasts abouc four months of the year. The peseta | is worth between 5d and 6d. One j well-known toreador dui'ing a rece it season earned more than the King'p income. There are at present, however, openings for first-class toreadors in Spain, as the total number in this select company is only about 35.

Plenty of Aspirants. There are any number of aspirants to the profession. Spanish youth, apparently, has very strong ambitions in the direction of bull-fighting, and there are srhools where the art is taught. These youngsters, wlio range from 15 to 18 years in age, are known as novilieros, and their success depends largely upon the courage they show. Every Sunday, under the guidance of a full-fledged fighter, they match their ability against. animals that are not particularly ferocious. The ob.ject is to secure as many tails and ears as possible. And some of them are keen about it. One lad Mr Jenkins watcbed deliberately crouched in front of a bull and was thrown eight times in succession — and came back for more. That apparently was to impress the mentor with his courage. Another lad overdid it a little and was killed. As a source of revenue these bull fights are extremely valuable to the Government, which imposes an amuse ment tax on them.