196 Unexplored Spain 



five sons, all cmftsmeii of repute, who, in honour of their sire, 

 formed a bull-fiohtino; ouikl still known as the Rondenean School — 

 distinguished from the later Sevillian cult by its more serious 

 and dignified attack as compared with the prettiuess and 

 " swago;er " of the Sevillano. 



DO 



In that generation Francisco's son, Pedro Romero, appeared 

 in rivalry with PEPE-ILLO, the new-risen star in the Sevillian 

 firmament. It was, by the way, the master-mind of the latter 

 which completed and perfected the reorganisation on popular 

 lines of the national fiesta after Bourbon influence had alienated 

 the aristocracy from their ancient diversion. The rivalry between 

 these competing exponents of the two styles commenced in 1771, 

 the pair representing each a supreme mastery of their respective 

 schools, and only terminated with the death of Pepe-Illo in the 

 Plaza of Madrid, May 11, 1801. The Sevillian style has since 

 attained pre-eminence, appealing more to the masses by its 

 nonchalance and apparent disregard of danger. When the best 

 features of both schools are combined — as has been exemplified 

 in more than one brilliant exponent of the art — then the letters 

 of his name are writ large on the cartels. 



One other famous name of that epoch demands notice — that of 

 Costillares, who introduced the flying stroke distinguished as the 

 suerte de volapie. Hitherto all lidiadors had received the onset 

 of the bull standing — the suerte de recihir. In the volapie the 

 charging bull is met half-way, an exploit demanding unswerv- 

 ing accuracy, strength of arm, and exact judgment of distance, 

 since the spot permissible for the sword to enter, the target on 

 the bull's neck, is no bigger than an orange. 



The normal difficultv of sheathino; the blade at that exact 

 point on a charging bull is great enough ; but is vastly increased 

 in the volapie^ or flying stroke, and the effect produced on the 

 spectators emotional in the last degree. 



Costillares also formalised the costumes of the different classes 

 of bull-fighters. He flourished in 1760, and died of a broken 

 heart owing to his right arm being injured, which incapacitated 

 him from further triumphs. About that period Martinho intro- 

 duced the perilous pole-jump, and Jos^ Candido stood out 

 prominent for skill and extraordinary resource. 



Intermediate episodes of minor importance we must briefly 

 note. Thus Godoy in 1805 stopped bull-fights, but Joseph 



