The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-09-16
MOTLEY THRONG
OF MERRY MAKERS
Today--Mexican Centennial ceIe-
braton in Full Blast.

SlIy Ol MeAlcO, OepI lO.-A uSdlCh-
ing salute, which ratified the windows
and awakened the echoes Of grim and |
grisly old Chapultepec, brought out |
into the streets of the capital city to-
day a motley, swarming throng of
merrymakers in holiday array, bent on
properly celebrating the great day,
the day of days, in the history of the
republic. Here where Spaniards once
lorded over the people, where Yankee
soldiers from the North once raised
the stars and stripes, where the Ill
starred Macmillan won and lost an
empire, hundred years of independ-
ence were rounded out today.
Just one hundred years ago Hidalgo,
priest, rang a village bell and pro-
claimed to the assembled people the
independence of Mexico from Spanish
domination. Then followed wars and
revolutions, plots and counter-plots,
and foreign invasions, and freedom
was little more than a name until the
soldier Diaz seized in iron grasp the
reins of government. At times die
tator, often a tyrant, he has yet sue
ceeded in making Mexico a power
among the nations of the world.
Every year, September 16, is OBJ
served in Mexico as independence
Day. but today's centennial celebra-
ton is on a scale Of magnificense
heretofore undreamed of. Pageantry
and display of which any city and ma
ton might we'll be proud, coupled with
music, grand opera, military maneu-
vers, sports and pastimes of every
kind known to the Mexicans, includ-
, ing the inevitable bull fight, fill the
days program to overlooking.
Nearly every important nation OF
the world, has sent official representa-
tives to join in the festal occasion
Curtis Guild, of Massachusetts,, is the
special ambassador representing Pres
ident Taft, and a distinguished party
y of senators and representative and
thousands of American tourists Joined
!. in the demonstrations.
4 In preparation for todays granC
elimination of the centennial, gen
eral housekeeping has been going o.
for months throughout the republic
In the capital all of the streets ant
public buildings have been cleaned
) and FURNISHED, and nearly ever!
! block in the city is respondent in
new coat of paint.
Tourists who have read of the hat
its and appearance of the lower elias
n Mexicans are greatly surprised to nm
even the poorest well clothed in Euro
pean or American clothing and "of
pleasant odor." Mexicans who hereto
fore bathed only once year, on tn
day of St. John the Baptist, are nov
or as clean as daily additions for week
lie past could make them.
IN If President Taft should direct tn
Sc American people to take daily bath
s. shave every other day and wear ce
ut tain kinds of clothes, probably ever
a. American firm Portland to Portlan
lie would probably revel in dirt and viii
ID kers and outlandish garbs, merely 3
r. way of showing independence.
IS Mexico, things are different, and whe
ne the paternal Diaz ordered a gener
a. cleanup, the sovereign citizens of tt
g. republic, free and independent, haste
he ed to obey Those too poor to Ode
he the order were provided with fr'
err baths, shaves, haircuts and laundrie
he Those who fail to come up to the
ng quired standard in the way Of perso
pt- al cleanliness are unceremonious
ed banished from view by the polio
he Beggars who at other times haunt q
,p- streets unmolested are now bell
Up cared for by the government, and e
to uninitiated visitor is likely to thil
n.y. that poverty is unknown.
B. Although large sums have De
oh spent in preparing for the transie
ny spectacle of the centennial, the matte
on al and various state and munich
ng governments are also observing CO
ed tennial year by beginning vast pub
to improvements. Schools, hospita
museums, public monuments, stre'
cry and parks will be improved and
las tended as permanent memorial
rfv nonfannial war