Omaha daily bee., 1921-09-13

Mexico City, Sept. l2.-There'll be
hot time in the old town tonight.
Hot with wine, music, tamales and
fireworks.
The greatest national celebration
Mexico has ever seen started today
1t is the Tooth year Of Mexico's free
dom from the Spaniard. The cele-
bration will last month.
Not since the days OF Porfro
Diaz, in 1910, has the country been
calm enough to permit national
fiesta as magnificent as the one be-
ginning today.
From the United States and from
Europe troupers and visitors have
come to participate in the celebra-
ton. The hotels are crowded. There
lis no Volstead amendment here, a
fact to which the humor of the
crowds testifes.
Back of the tinsel and wild dis
play.is the romantic history of Mex
ieo's revolt against Spain. 1t was
in September, 1921, that Augustine
de Iturbide, who afterward became
emperor, marched into Mexico City
to announce that freedom from Spain
had been won. Eleven years before,
on September IS, 1910, occurred an
event which set in progress the
forces which brought about Mexican
| freedom.
Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla, prizes
lin the village of Dolores, had joined
the movement to secure Mexican in.
dependence. At midnight, September
Is, 1910, Spanish soldiers came to
his church to seize him as con-
spirator. As he saw that he was to
be taken he grasped the rope Of the
bell hanging in the belfry OF the
church, ringing loudly and shouting
Long live independence! Long life
to Our Lady Of Guadalupe! Death
to tyranny
Celebration Has American Flavor.
At midnight Thursday the presi-
dent OF Mexico as well as every ex-
ecutive functionary in the republic,
will do honor to the parish priest.
His cry of freedom will be re-echoed
in every section of the. country.
The celebration is like nothing so
much as a protracted American
Fourth of July. Every city and
state is engaged in local festivities.
Peace, apparently, has descended up
on the land-at least for the time be-
ing.
In Mexico City itself there are
many typically American events in
progress. Several American show
companies are here. President Obrc-
gon is to pitch the first ball in Sc
ries of base ball games. In the
great exposition hall many familiar
American products are on display.
The Mexicans went into celebra-
ton in regular North American style.
Five million dollars is said to have
been the cost of the great legislative
palace in which the expositions are
being held. This building is prob
ably the most expensive and elab-
crate of its kind. There are 250,000
feet of floor space. The main stair
way from the entrance is 162 feet
wide. There are a great dance floor
and a theater in the building. On
the stage of the theater 500 perform
ers will cavort. Opera stars and
show-girls will tread the boards here.
Much of the display room in the
legislative palace has been taken by
American automobile manufacturers.
In competition with the sound Of
their motors comes the music from
numerous bands distributed through
out the building.
Great Pageant Planned.
To this display at least 2.s00,0O0
people from outside Mexico City are
expected to come.
Concurrent with the centenary
celebration is the International Aero
nautical show. Aircraft of all kinds
hover over the. city, at night H.
lumined by powerful searchlights.
The great event of the independ.