BULL FIGHT IN PARIS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2290, 15 March 1887, Page 2

BULL FIGHT IN PARIS.

A bull fight was exhibited at the Paris hippodrome on Sunday, January ICtb, in the presence of an immense multitude, filling the seats of the great hall. It is almost the first time in this generation that such a spectacle has beeu exhibited in Paris. The object was to aid the fund raised for the suft'erors from the floods in the south of France. The amount drawn on Sunday was 70,000f., and, all expenses being , paid, there will remain 57,000f., to be paid to the charitable fund. There was a great outcry raised against the introduction into Paris of bull-lighting, as a barbarous entertainment; but it was explained that the objectionable game is the Spanish one, and that the Provencal and Gascon forms of the entertainment are harmless, and seldom, if ever, accompanied by loss of life. There were present a few persons who went to protest by hisses against the display. They were, however, completely lost in the crowd, and soon ceased to disturb the audience. Those in one group who commenced by hissing were fairly carried away by the interest of the fete, and seemed altogether to forget the purpose for which they bad come. At half-past two the bullfighters entered with the sound of trumpets. At the head marched the Provencal troops, in a dress similar to that of the Spanish toreadors, their vests and breeches glittering with gold spangles, in tight stockings, and with a brightcoloured cloak hanging over the shoulder. Next came the troop from the Landes, wearing Basque bonnets on their heads, and without spangles or cloaks, but wonderfully alert and agile. Then followed a group of clowns in the costume of Spanish toreadors. The Provencal right came first. The bull began by attacking a column of the arena, but soon finding he had no chance of victory, he rushed right at the brightly clad groups before him. They sprang , out of the way with wonderful agility. The bull pursued them, and the interest lay in watching the dexterity with which the torero, after exciting the bull until he was about to crush him, sprang over the enclosure, and left the amazed bulr with nothing before him but a wall of wood. The interest increased when the performers faced the bull, and jumped aside, allowing the horns of the animal almost to touch their bodies. The cow seems to take the place of the bull in the Gascon figlit, and those present watched with interest the intelligent and cunning attacks of the animals and the leaps of the performers, who sprang in a wonderful manner over their pursuers. During the entr'acte Pooly, one of the performers, presented cockades used in the fight to M. Vacquerie. president of the Fetes committee, the Prefect of Police, and M. d'Albareda, the Spanish Ambassador, who was present, and occupied a place of honour at the entertainment.