Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-06
THE CITY OF MEXICO.
AS OBSERVED THROUGH VIRGINIA
GLASSES.
Season of s,estas-How Our Neighbors OF
the South Celebrate the Birth OF Their
Repubiic-The Critic. &c.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispstch.l

Cry or MEXICO. September lS, 1889.
BEGINNING on Saturday and closing on
Monday night (the l6th) the citizens OF
the United States of Mexico and especially
OF the ancient capital, have celebrated the
seventy-ninth anniversary Of the first IN
| fant-cry Of this now vigorous republic IN
great shape. Much powder has been
burned and pulque drunk, and old Mexico
awoke with bad case of big-bead on the
morning OF the 18th. The birthday OF
President Diaz coming on the 18th It was
celebrated on Saturday the 18th, so that
we had three DAYS of successive colenra.
tions. Saturday the exercises consisted OF
races in the morning. public reception IN
the afternoon, and fireworks at night, with
Il sorenade TO the President by monster
band Of $50 pieces.
MUSIC AND MILITARY.
All dav Sunday and Monday there was
music in all the plazas, and military pa
rading the principal streets. The princl-
pal event Of Sunday was the tOrchlight pro-
cesson. which at o'clock Z. NJ. moved
from the PdseC de 10 RCfOru0 to the Pi1zd
MAJOR or Xocalo. in front Of the Pdldcto Ma
ci0nal. Hours before il reached the great
square this plaza tremendous cne-Was
crowded with an almost innumerable mass
OF surging humanity. In this great throng
of beings all ages, classes, and conditions
sented.
AN IMPRESSIVE SCENE.
The hoary old Cathedral overlooks the
Zocalo on the east. and as the hands OF
the great clock pointed to the hour Of II
the whole square was instantaneously
lightcd by the brightest blaze of hundreds
of electric-and Bengal lights. A solitary
figure appeared ON the central balcony OF
the palace waving tattered trl-colored
banner. Amid a silence that could be felt
on the crisp night air came the thrilling
cry. " y,pd IN LSbpTfdd." " FfrG IA R'Vitb-
ca, y" V5oa McTico." This was the Grito.p
The speaker was President Diaz, and the
banner in his hand was the same one used
by the illustriOus HidalgO on the church
tower in Dolores seventy-nlne years ago
As the voice OF General Diaz dies away tho
bells from every church in the city strike a
grand di0l1tD. which lasts ten minutes, can
non roar, and from the multitude goes up n
mighty shout. Vird Me1cO" rings from
many thousand throats, and enthusiasm un-
bounded reigns supreme. The three grand
towers of the Cathedral aro now lllumi-
mated with red. green, and white lights,
the air is full Of rockets. bands blare
and the crowd reiuctantly begins TO dis
perse. The "GritO" originated on the
18th Of September, 1910, when at II o'clock
nj night the priest HidalgO. the leader OF
Mexican patriots. caused the church-bells
Of his native city to be Tung and shouted
the first cry Of liberty. The custom has
since been regularly observed III every
town and hamlet in the republic, the chlet
official of the municipality giving IT. II IL
always followed bv the ringing of bells and
firing of cannon When heard amid such
SURROUNDINGS a. those of Saturday last II
cannot fail TO strike a responsive cord IN
the i.Ost unpatrlohc breast, and It's
xrr1O pfHggC.
GRAND BALL.
immediately after the ceremonials al the
plazG the great Brile Of the yenr was OPEN
ed At TIE National Theatre. The old play
house was brilliantly illuminated and de-
corated rs the Mexican florist only can de-
corate. The national colors were every
where. from pit TO dome, IN SILK, satin,
flowers. and electric lets. The foyer pre-
sented the appearance of a vcritable fairy
Garden. while the main salon was packed
with the ette Of the city. Over 5000 lnyi-
tations were issued, and the attendance IN
briliance Of social standing, costume, and
Jewels is rarely equalled anywhere. \
rare bunch OF beauty was seen in the wives
of the Ministers from the Argentine Re
public. Italian. and Spanish Governments.
The light fantastic was trlpDed till . A.
NJ. when salyOs of heavy artillery warned
the gay jewellers that the celebrations Of
another day were beginning. There were
aristocratic balls at various other theatres
and halls but that at the National was at
tended by the creme dc Ia creme OF Mexican
society.
ENDLESS PARADEs.