"He who has heard the magic oratory of Castelar, has listened to the singing of Gayarre, the declamation of Cabro, has read Zorilla, and witnessed the _torear_ of Lagartijo, may say, without any kind of reservation, that there is nothing left for him to admire!" Having thus placed the popular bull-fighter on a level with orators, authors, and musicians of the first rank, the writer goes on to describe the beauties of Lagartijo's play in words which are too purely technical of the ring to make translation possible, and adds: "He who has not seen the great _torero_ of Córdoba in the plenitude of his power will assuredly not comprehend why the name of Lagartijo for more than twenty years filled _plazas_ and playbills, nor why the _aficionados_ of to-day recall, in speaking of his death, times which can never be surpassed.... The _toreo_ (play) of Lagartijo was always distinguished by its classic grace, its dignity and consummate art, the absence of affectation, or struggle for effect. In every part of the fight the figure of Rafael fell naturally into the most graceful attitudes; and for this reason he has always worn the rich dress of the _torero_ with the best effect. He was the perfect and characteristic type of a _torero_, such as Spanish fancy has always imagined it. Lagartijo died with his eyes fixed on the image of the Virgen de los Dolores, to whom he had always confidently committed his life of peril, and with the dignity and resignation of a good man." The article was illustrated with numerous portraits of Don Rafael: in full _torero_ dress in 1886; his very last photograph; views of him in the courtyard of his home in Córdoba, and outside the Venta San Rafael, where he took his coffee in the evening, and others. The notice concludes by saying that his life was completely dedicated to his property, which he managed himself, and he was looked upon as the guardian angel of the labourers on his farm. _Probre Rafael!_ "The lovers of the bull-fight are lamenting the death of the _torero_, but the poor of Córdoba mourn the loss of their 'Señor Rafael.'" [Illustration: PLAZA DE TOROS. THE PROCESSION] The wives of the _toreros_ are generally celebrated for their beauty, their wit, and their devotion to their husbands--indeed, the men have a large choice before them when choosing their helpmates for life. To their wives is due much of the making and all the keeping up of the elaborate and costly dress of the _torero_. They are, as someone has said, "ferociously virtuous," and share in the open-handed generosity of their husbands. The earnings of a successful _torero_ are very large. In some cases, they make as much as £4000 or £5000 a year of English money, during the height of their popularity, and retire to end their days in their native and beloved Andalucia.