A minimum of three Christmas balls on Christmas Eve! Music, dancing, supper, and hopefully, some young ladies. Note the price for the one in Oroville — $8.00. It had better be good for that price.

And on Christmas Day there was “Sport for the Boys!” A Bull Fight! Popular entertainment in those days. But what was the “Senorita Fight”? Curious, I searched further. A report appeared in the Record on the 27th.

It sounds like every man in Butte County was eager for the spectacle, but the editor of the Record found it a disappointment. The bulls were tired and refused to fight. When tormented, one “made desperate efforts to to get loose”, then laid down to rest. “Another was hauled in, who soon showed an unmistakable desire to let everybody alone if they would do likewise, and desired to go home.” The spectators laughed and jeered.

What of the senorita? This much-anticipated lady was brought out to fight a bull. “On the appearance of the senorita, she was greeted with immense applause, but she soon proved to be a “steamboat,” and the good-natured audience laughed again.”

I don’t know exactly what is meant by a “steamboat” in 19th century slang, but it must have been something like — more puffery than substance. Her performance was definitely a disappointment and the onlookers felt cheated. The manager came out, tried to apologize, and the audience left amid cries of “steamboat! “steamboat!” In the apologetic card submitted to the paper by the manager, Mr. Jones, he explained that the bulls were fatigued and hungry from their journey, the band of musicians failed to show up, and as for the senorita:

The senorita was on hand, but refused to kill or fight a dung hill bull. As the senorita refused to fight, I thought I would give the audience as near a senorita as was in my power. I give them the petticoats in sight.

In other words, the senorita was a fake. They saw petticoats, but no senorita.

I sincerely hope your Christmas festivities are full of laughter and light, and no bull.