1892 
San Luis 
Potosl 
(S.L.Potosi) 
decorated with flags and drapery showing the national colors of red, 
white, and green* The Plaza de Ames was festooned with lanterns 
and the streets just about were gay with the bright colors, and at 
night the buildings were brilliantly illuminated with small lanterns. 
Hundreds of people came in from the surrounding country, and the walls 
about town were placarded with posters giving the programme of exer¬ 
cises, over the Governor's signature. In the proclamation, the Gover¬ 
nor invited the members of the foreign colony to take part in the 
celebration ’’thereby showing their well-known goodwill toward the 
Republic," Speeches, music and military parades with the reading of 
the constitution made up the bulk of the show,- with fireworks at the 
i 
close each evening. 
At 11 p,m, on the 16th, the Plaza was filled with the people in 
front of the Palace, The Governor appeared on a balcony overlooking 
the people, and his aide read the constitution by the light of two 
bengal lights held overhead. At the close of this, the Governor 
stepped to the edge of the balcony and, waving a small flag, shouted 
the "Grito de Dolores”, or the cry which the Cura Hidalgo is supposed 
to have uttered at this hour and date years ago when he stirred up 
the revolution against the Spaniards that was to free his country and 
make a martyr of himself. 
This custom is observed at the close of the festivities eaoh year 
c* ' 
S 
and is greeted with a loud shout by the people. It is a dramatic 
finish to the eelebrations, 
During these three days and until the end of the month a double 
row of canvas and matting booths were erected along the sides of a 
small open square in the city where a variety of games of chance were 
played on long tables in some, while in others a counter in front was 
utilized to sell pulque and aguardiente aoross. In all, music was to 
107 
