BULL-FIGHTS IN FRANCE.
(To TUE EDITOR OP TRH "SP learATon.1 SIR,—Mr. Richard Davey in your last issue shows that the Church of Rome has for three hundred years condemned bull- fighting.
It is unfortunate that in this crusade it has not been more successful in the countries where it is strongest,—the Iberian Peninsula and the South American Continent. Re says, how- ever, that the French Republic "has lately officially authorised bull-fighting as a national pastime." I trust that in this view he is mistaken, as also in the declaration that the principal patrons of such bull-rings as have been locally permitted in France are English, as " the better class of French people rarely attend the fights.' "
True that at Nimes, Bordeaux, and Marseilles "arenas" have been authorised by the Mayors. True that at Nice, Mentone, and Cannes provisional authority was given to a Spanish impre- sario. But it was in each case quickly revoked on the energetic representation of the foreign colonies, led by the British and supported by the villa and hotel proprietors and the leading tradesmen, sensible of the pernicious effect of such degrading spectacles on their material interests, present and future.
The Mayor of Cannes wrote to me " as a proprietor in Cannes "
on April 14th Je n'hesite pas it vons dire que je suis entiere- ment oppose aux courses de taureaux et qu'h l'avenir je ne saurais les antoriser." This declaration was supported by his Commissaire Central in these words C'est un genre de spectacle pen en harmonic avec les goets de la population et des hivernants."rhe Societe Protectrice des Animaux in Marseilles is vigorously protesting against the action of the Mayor, who persists in encouraging these brutal exhibitions in the face of all representations, and unfortunately he has a four years' tenure of office to complete. Last week the opulent Societe Protectrice des Animaux at Paris sent a deputation to M. Clemencean, the Minister of the Interior, to urge him to renew the circular issued by his predecessor, the late M. Waldeck-Rousseau, in 1884, inviting the Prefets to veto any Mayoral permits for bull-fights within their departments. There is also a strong party in the new French Parliament alive to the fact that the prosperity of nations is in direct proportion to their consideration for animals, and that the Loi Grammont requires strengthening. The Spanish Empire of the past was as great as that of Britain to-day. Bull-fights were revived to amuse the people. The Empire fell, and now but a fragment remains. Small wonder that there is a growing party of our Spanish kinsmen and allies, supported by a powerful section of the Press, urging that although bull-fights may give proof that the old Spanish courage still animates toreadors, the cruelty to the bulls and horses, the accustoming of boys and girls to bloody and disgusting scenes, and the holding of the dumb servants of man in no regard, are unworthy of the civilisation of the twentieth century ; fatal, moreover, to that rise of Spain to which they look forward no less than ourselves, under Alfonso XIII. and Queen Victoria.
House of Commons.
P.S.—As I close this letter a letter reaches me from M. Coutand, president of the Paris Society. He says :—"J'ai la grande satis- faction de vou.s informer du plein slimes de la demarche hier auprhs de M. Clemencean. Nous aeons etc present& par M. is Depute de Paris Viviani, et accneilli avec beaucoup de bienviel- lance. M. le Ministre a immediatement donnes des instructions formelles et precises pour que desormais tonte autorisation l'organisation d'une course de taureanx ayant dans son pro- gramme la raise mort du taurean on de chevanx."
I hope that M. Clemenceau may be induced to extend his interdiction nterdiction to the keeping of wretched animals to be
baited and tortured week after week by banderillos, for I am assured that he holds " des longtemps des idees zoophilos."
[We are delighted to publish the welcome news of the action taken by M. Clemenceau, and trust with Sir Howard Vincent that he may ultimately be induced to give the order for, total prohibition.—ED. Spectator.]
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