How many readers of Young People know the date of the Independence-day of the United States of Mexico? They have such a day, which is kept with great rejoicings, ringing of bells, booming of cannons, and no end of popping fire-crackers.
Spanish rule had long been very heavy and oppressive for the inhabitants of Mexico, and on the Sixteenth of September, 1810, a small company of men, led by a priest named Hidalgo, issued a proclamation calling upon the Mexicans to rise against their tyrannical Spanish rulers. The people were not well organized; and although their desire for liberty was very strong, it took many years of hard fighting to drive the Spaniards out of the country. It was not until 1821 that Mexico gained her freedom. Hidalgo and other early leaders of the revolutionary movement had been killed by the Spaniards, and the people were not as yet wise enough to make good use of their liberty. They had been oppressed so many years that they did not know how to form a true republic. The first thing they did was to proclaim a man named Iturbide Emperor of Mexico. The people owed much to Iturbide, for it was by his skill and good generalship that they gained their freedom; but they should not have made him an Emperor. He oppressed the people so much that they soon had to rise again and drive him from the country.
It took the Mexicans many years to learn how to live under a republican government. They had many revolutions and much trouble, but they loved liberty, and went to work bravely to learn how to use it wisely. They abolished slavery more than fifty years ago, and the Constitution under which the people are now living peacefully and happily is very much like the Constitution of the United States. Every fourth year they elect a President. The name of the man now in office is Manuel Gonzalez.
The Sixteenth of September, the day on which the poor priest Hidalgo and his little band of patriots issued the proclamation against Spanish rule, is observed all over Mexico as a glorious Independence-day.
MEXICAN FIRE-WORKS—THE "TORO."
At sunrise the bells ring merrily, cannons are fired from all the forts, and thousands of little boys begin a lively sport with torpedoes and fire-crackers. Then during the day come public meetings with patriotic speeches, and splendid military parades with joyous martial music.
As evening draws near, the impatience, especially of the little Indian boys, grows so great for the fire-works to begin that long before sunset they send up fire-balloons of bright-colored paper, and when it is dark the air is full of these flying stars. The boys are very skillful in making these balloons, and a boy will often have a great number of them, which he has made himself, all ready to send up on that glorious Independence-night.
The fire-works are like those in this country. But there is one very curious piece, in which the Indians take special delight. They would not think it was Independence-night if they could not burn a "toro," the Spanish word for bull. The bull is made on a frame covered with thick leather, and pin-wheels and stars are fastened all over it. A light frame-work is built on the bull's back as a support for spiral fire-works and Roman candles. A young Indian takes this bull on his head, the projecting leather sides protecting him from any danger from falling sparks. A pin-wheel is ignited, which soon extends its fire over the bull's whole body. The young Indian scampers up and down the street, preceded by boys who make all the noise they can on little drums. The crowd of spectators runs after him, shouting with delight. The bull burns furiously, he shakes a fiery tail, his eyes are two glaring balls, and he darts green and red and yellow sparks from his nostrils. He is a very fierce creature, and the crowd of Indians laugh and scream as he rushes at them. His back is a tower of fire, sending forth small aerial bombs. At last his rage is over, the pin-wheels which covered his sides revolve slower and slower, and with a final sputter disappear. His eyes grow dim, and he is a very forlorn bull. The young Indian who has had the honor of carrying him in his glory and strength emerges from the blackened frame, and the crowd goes home to bed declaring that there never was such a fierce and magnificent bull.
On Fourth-of-July morning the readers of Young People must remember that the flags are flying in their honor in the city of Mexico, for in all honor done to our country every American boy and girl has a share.