178 ANIMAL ARTISANS 



of clerics at a national pastime which occupies the 

 thoughts of the ordinary public for months before 

 and months after it has taken place. In Madrid the 

 Plaza de Toros holds 12,000 people, and seats cost 

 from two shillings to two pounds. A Spanish work- 

 man will live on bread and grapes or water-melon for 

 weeks to save enough money for a front seat, and if 

 the fatal sword be planted in the deadly spot he will 

 fling his money, his tobacco, and his knife into the 

 ring at the feet of the successful champion. All 

 Seville went into mourning recently for the death of 

 a famous toreador, and his funeral was a semi-public 

 ceremony. A great nobleman who will keep the 

 breed of black bulls pure enough and savage enough 

 to satisfy the audience gains more popular applause 

 than the owner of a Derby winner in England ; and 

 in a recent disastrous railway accident public opinion 

 was strongly aroused against the railway company, 

 not on account of the loss of human life, but because 

 the bulls which were on their way to the approaching 

 bull-fight were thrown upon the line, and besides 

 injuring one or two passengers, which did not matter, 

 were in some cases injured themselves, which was felt 

 to be a public calamity. 



