484 THE NATIONAL HOLIDAYS. 



The pupils sons of artisans, and some fifty in number with the director, a Frenchman, 

 awaited us in two lines at the door, the latter prepared with a preliminary harangue. The 

 institution heing wholly at the expense of the government, the young men were clad in a neat 

 though plain uniform, and their quarters were clean and comfortable. Its origin being recent, 

 and the engine the first erected in central if not in all Chile, the carpenters' and blacksmiths' 

 shops and steam-engine were the only objects for inspection. A speech was made over the 

 boiler, one of the ministers whispering to me, "What a chance for the revolutionists to send us 

 up among your stars." An examination of the mechanical drawings followed, some questions 

 as to the mathematical proficiency of the pupils came next, and the show was over ; though 

 not until I strongly suspected his Excellency was nodding during the algebraic solution of a 

 problem about two eggs. As an instrument for implanting and cultivating practical as well as 

 theoretical knowledge in which natives are usually too ignorant the institution reflects the 

 highest honor on the patriotism and liberal policy of the government; a policy most worthy of 

 admiration and success. 



Our party broke up here. Each carriage wended its way homeward as inclination dictated, 

 no small number of friends claiming the right to exercise hospitality towards us. But the sun 

 was lending his last rosy beams to the summits of the Andes ; we had our illuminations to see 

 after as soon as a hasty dinner could be obtained; and there was no time to be lost. At an 

 early hour the old palace fronting on the plaza, that now occupied by government (the Mint), 

 and nearly all the churches and private buildings, were lighted, the first two very brilliantly, 

 and the others as well as their construction will permit. It must be recollected that there a're 

 not as many windows on the streets as in our houses, and the art of transparencies had never 

 been introduced until those suggested to the United States legation by ourselves. In one of 

 the windows the Chilean, and in the other the American coat of arms was represented, with 

 the flags of the two nations blended, and the words "Libertad" and "Union" inscribed. They 

 were well executed, and very greatly admired for their novelty. But the "Star of the South" 

 on the observatory was a gem, emblematic of our pursuits as well as complimentary to the 

 nation whose flag bears a single one in its folds, and under whose protection we were. It was 

 visible from the great plaza where the mass of people had assembled to witness fireworks ; from 

 that in front of the mint ; from the opera-house in short, from no place of resort could the eye . 

 be turned eastward without beholding its sparkling rays as of a mass of brilliants above the 

 snow-crests ; for darkness and the lead color of the house utterly concealed the object that sus- 

 tained it. It thus commanded universal attention and admiration. Bands of music were 

 stationed in the plaza and at every two or three squares' distance along the Canada, and the 

 night was such as should have tempted the population abroad long after the display of pyro- 

 technics terminated ; but as the movements of the revolutionary Egualistas had impaired public 

 confidence, the streets were soon after deserted, and the musicians were without auditors. 



On the 19th the military salutes and music which heralded the advent of a new day, and the 

 commencement of its festivities, rendered the neighborhood of Santa Lucia far from quiet. At 

 10 A. M. there was a great parade in the Canada by detached battalions of the National Guard, 

 who subsequently moved to the broad plain south of the city, and generally called La Pampilla, 

 though not unfrequently Campo de Marie. At a later hour all the troops (regulars and civil) 

 were to be reviewed there by the President. This was to be the event of the day : and it was 

 invested with more interest to the young bloods, because the Chief Magistrate had signified his 

 determination to manoeuvre the troops himself; and it had been asserted that the conspirators 

 would embrace the opportunity to rally known disaffected regiments, and seize his person. No 

 President had ever availed himself of the constitutional privilege to direct the evolutions ; and 

 it was said that ineffectual attempts were made to dissuade General Bulnes, because he would be 

 exposed to far greater danger. Every soldier had it in his power to drop a ball in his musket 

 when the order should be given to load, and might shoot down a passing officer almost without 

 risk of detection; but the General probably despised the exhibition of fear, and rightly judged 



