Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-03-26

IN n a II 4 NIake0 MS ANlLn LnlnAnN All-
" niversary with the Philadelphia
- exposition the big doinEs Gull
/ ISGlEaS minated In the ringing Of the
49, original liberty bell on In
de'endence day So In the celebra-
ton Of the centennial anniversary
Of Mexico's first blow for freedom
the ceremonies have focused in the ringing
again by the president Of the republic Of
the sef-same bell upon which the curate
Hidalgo sounded forth his Critic de Do
lores just 100 years before. By a peculiar
! coincidence, the birthday OF President Diaz
also falls upon the eve Of this date. az
fording an opportunity TO make the h0li-
day honor the personality OF the ruler as
wei as the Idea OF self government which
his rule Is supposed to typify.
II was cur fortune to witness from
specially good vantage ground the prin-
cipal headline acts on the centennial pro
gram We were TO have an audience with
the president and view the historic pag-
cant from the palace. Comparatively little
{ difficulty was encountered in gaining ad-
mittance to the building. and only the
usual waits for our turn for presentation.
OF course we were not the only ones-in
fact We were the most somber among the
gayly dressed diplomats and brightly uni
formed officers. provincial dignitaries in
native gala garb and palace attaches
attired with equal brilliance. AS the line
moved slowly through one chamber after
| another, we could examine the rich furni-
ture and handsome wall decorations. At
the far end Of the last room the visitors
passed in front Of a raised platform. on
which the president stood with his cabinet
members behind him. He shook hands as
each person was presented by name, and
usually added a word to the greeting.
You have my fluctuations on your birth
day l said. Il am very pleased" he
replied.
The Presidents Appearance.
As 1 surveyed him hastily, he did not
look 80 years old. His hair and mustache,
to be sure, are growing white. but are
strong reminders Of the jet black they
once were. His eve is keen and his
facial features firm, but not notlceably
lined by age. He wore simple evening
dress, with a broad silk band Of the Mex
lean tricolor-green, white and red-across
the shirt bosom. He did not seem to be
as tall as I had expected-probably five
feet eight inches, but then, he looked more
impressive the next day, when I saw him
driving past in full military uniform and
, coat breast laden with glittering decora.
|, tons and jeweled insignia Of honorary
, rank.
, We were not presented to the cabinet
members, but could recognize many OF
} them by their portraits or by having then
, pointed out by more knowing friends
! For the most part they had strong faces
, and would doubtless hold their own among
! men in similarly responsible positions il
b other countries. met the administrative
head of the federal district, Gov. Landa J
/ Escandon, who has courtly manner and
speaks English most fluently. 1 also me
Senior Romero. nephew OF the late am
bassador to the United States OF tina
name, and himself now a prominent mem
: Der Of the Mexican Congress
, Pictures of MeKieO's Progress.
- All this was but q prelude to the granC
: historical pageant which was TO portra!
! the striking scene in Mexico's onward
E progress. In front OF the palace stretch
, ing as far as the eye could reach. was on
dense mass of humanity. 1t would be
J rash guess to hazard an estimAte-surell
. not less than 100000 people, and tn
! efforts OF police and soldiers 10 keep opel
, the space in front Of the reviewing win
J dows were in vain. The Aztecs. headei
E by Montezuma, accompanied by their diff
' ferent tribal allies, were 20 march fort
D to receive Cortez and his Spanish invader
with their native auxiliaries. To get tn
costumes and appointments as nearly cor
, rect as possible, books and pictorial chart
in the libraries Of two worlds had bee
. ransacked, and have no doubt that tn
procession which we, watched was as near
h. " counterpart, except in numbers, a
r that famous historical company could hav
doxr and his wa
= riors were indeed respondent in ever
Z color OF the rainbow; they were no
I equipped. however, for combating tn