The times., 1898-10-02
"THE eR1To.o
A Great Celebration of the Inde-
pendence of Mexico.
(From the Mexican eralC

(From the Mexican erald.)
Last night the anniversary of Mex
ico's independence was celebrated with
an enthusiasm which shows clearly that
there is no abatement in the popular
veneration for the old ideals of patriot
ism.
The CELEBRATION called the "Grito" in
Mexico is unique 1t may be doubted
whether anywhere else in the
world could such a scene be witness
ed as takes place annually in Mexico
on the night of the 18th of Sep
tember. There is something in the air
which provokeS excitement and expecta-
ton. Every one Is hurrying toward the
main plaza, and the rest of the city is
deserted. In the plaza myriads of
people are gathered. They stand on
ground as historic as airy in the world
On the spot where the cathedral now
rises stood in olden times the grim
teocall Wien the President utters
the Critic and Bengal lights are kim
died on the roof of the present sacred
edifice, its architectural features. speak
ing of Christian art, are lost in the
dense clouds of many-colored smoke. and
one can easily conjure up in imagination
the solemn procession winding up the
sides of the old teocaIli until its summit
was reached. and the victim sacrificed in
the sight of the clamorous multitude.
On Independence Night the crowd
that fills the plaza waits patiently. The
people in their molly garbs are bathed
in a flood of light from the lanterns
among the trees. from the arc and in
candescent lamps. from cresset and bon
fire. from the illuminations on the ca
thedral and on house fronts from the
Bengal lights that flare like beacons
from the roofs of the tallest buildings.
The hands of the clock approach the
traditional hour of II. when Hidal-
co. tits said, on the same night eighty
eight years ago, summoned his parish
toner's around him. and raised the stand
ard of revolt. The expectancy in
creases, but still there, is outward
sign of 1t. People wait patiently in the
place they have chosen, all heads and
all eyes turned to one spot. the central
window In the low-fronted palace. At
last the first stroke of II rings out. There
is rather hush than increase in the
murmur of the throng.
The president I'm evening dress with the
Mexican tricolor band crossing his brea st
has appeared on the balcony OF the CEN
trail window and pulled the cord. which
| sets the bell of Hidalgo pealing out the
self-same notes that summoned the peas
ants of Dolores TO the side their parish
priest. A moment later the president
from the hands of Gen. Pradillo and hold
ing il aloft shouts a Viva TO the Inde-
| pendencia of Mexico. At the same mo-
ment the huge star of incandescent lamps
surrounding liberty bell like a halo bursts
into light and sends a flood of radiance
to every corner of the crowded plaza.
II seems then that the foodgates have
been opened. The sound which had been
an indistinct confused murmur swells in
to a roar like that of the ocean Vivas
are thundered from thousands of throats
and the din is increased by the cIangor
of the old cathedral bells and the boom
Of rocket after rocket shot into the air.
The atmosphere overhead is dense with
surging clouds of smoke tinged with
green and red from the Bengal lights.
A golden cascade descends from the
cathedral towers, and the tricolor stream
ers, floating on horizontal poles from the
| house tops, can just be seen waving ma
jestically by the ever changing glow of
| lights bursting all around them.
The crowd waits in the plaza for a
quarter of an hour or twenty minutes
after the cry and then pours through the
streets, which are Illuminated with a ra-
dance almost like that of day. The peo-
pie find relief for their feelings in cries,
some times in incipient disorder But
there Is nothlng IN this but the necessity
of giving vent In some form to pent-up
excitement 1t is rejoicing run wild and
this irrepressible impetus to cry Viva or
Muera something seldom leads to any
turbulence of any serious character The
people are too happy to be in a threaten
ing mood
Many young men take out their guitars
with them, and after the grito they wan
der of in groups through the streets,
which they traverse for the rest of the
night. one playing and the others singing.
The idea of going to bed on this night is
out of the question.