2o6 Unexplored Spain 



shadow aiul substance — in other words, to seek the man and 

 disdain the lure — this naturally making the role of matador more 

 dangerous, and double pay was demanded. To outsiders it would 

 appear that on the day when bulls learn this, bull-fighting must 

 cease. 



A storm burst that raged all winter — all classes taking part. 

 Spain was rent in twain ; press and people, high and low, joined 

 issue in this unseemly wrangle. We cannot here enter into detail 

 of the various schemes, fair and unfair, whereby the bull-fighters' 

 guild sought to justify their action and their demands and to 

 prejudice the terrible Miurenos in the public eye. They were 

 seconded by most professionals of renown, and soon all but seven 

 had joined the league. But the squabble with its resultant law- 

 suits and sordid financial aspect finally disgusted the public. 



Needless to add, a counter-association of bull-breeders had 

 been forced into existence, which eventually, despite varied and 

 particular personal interests unworthy of definition, united the 

 opposition. Oh ! it was a pretty quarrel and one in its essence 

 peculiar to Spain. But it held the whole country engaged all 

 winter in the throes of a semi-civil war ! 



At the first corrida of the followino- season — held at Alicante 

 January 18, 1909, and graced by the presence of King Alfonso 

 XIII. in person — the public delivered their verdict, filling the 

 Plaza to overflowing, although the whole of the six champions 

 were of the condemned Miura breed and the matadors, Quinito 

 and Rerre, belonoed to the recalcitrant Seven. The bull-fiohters' 

 ofuild had received a fatal blow. 



Such was the situation, the mental equilibrium between the 

 fiercely contending factions, as the crucial period approached — 

 the Easter corridas at Seville. The imjDresarios of that function, 

 having full grip of the circumstance, engaged matadors of minor 

 repute — Pepete, Moreno de Alcala, and Martin Vasquez. All 

 three, although but of second rank, Avere popular and regarded as 

 cominof men. 



Flaming posters announced that six champions of the Miura 

 breed would face the swordsmen. 



The occasion was unique, and D. Eduardo Miura rose to meet 

 it, presenting six bulls of incomparable beauty, magnificent in 

 fine lines, in dash, brute-strength, and valour, yet utterly devoid 

 (as the event proved) of guile or lurking treachery. Such 



