. Spanish life in town and country . ticular chulo,a mass of white satin and gold embroidery, drivingout to the bull-ring on the afternoon of a fiesta,bowing with right royal grace and dignity to theplaudits of the people. I was even accused ofhaving given the evil eye to one well-knownfavourite as he passed my balcony, when Iwished, almost audibly, that the bull might havehis turn for once in a way that afternoon. Andhe had; for the popular espada was carried out ofthe ring apparently dead, the spectators cameback looking white and sick, and I felt like avery murderess until I learned later t
. Spanish life in town and country . ticular chulo,a mass of white satin and gold embroidery, drivingout to the bull-ring on the afternoon of a fiesta,bowing with right royal grace and dignity to theplaudits of the people. I was even accused ofhaving given the evil eye to one well-knownfavourite as he passed my balcony, when Iwished, almost audibly, that the bull might havehis turn for once in a way that afternoon. Andhe had; for the popular espada was carried out ofthe ring apparently dead, the spectators cameback looking white and sick, and I felt like avery murderess until I learned later that he wasnot dead. All Madrid, almost literally, called toinquire for him daily, filling books of signatures,as if he had been an emperor at least. Person-ally, I was more interested in his courage afterthe event and the devotion of his clndo, whonever left his side, but held his hands while theinjured leg was cut off, in three separate opera-tions, without any anaesthetic. Eventually, hecompletely recovered, and was fitted with an. Popular Amusements 121 admirable mechanical cork limb in place of theone removed in three detachments; and my senseof evil responsibility was quite removed when Iheard that his young wife was delighted to thinkthat he could never enter the bull-ring as a fighteragain, and her anxieties were at an end. It is quite impossible to over-estimate the popu-larity of the toreivs with the Spanish are the friends and favourites of the aristoc-racy, the demi-gods of the populace. You neversee one of them in the streets without an admiringcircle of worshippers, who hang on every wordand gesture of the great man; and this is no cultof the hour, it is unceasing. They are alwaysknown for their generosity, not only to injuredcomrades, but to any of the poor in need. Isthere a disaster by which many are injured—flood,tempest, or railway accident ? Immediately abull-fight is arranged for the sufferers, and thewhole cuadrilla will give their earnings to
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