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that Emilio's father participated or was involved in any of
these outbreaks; yet the impact was so strong on Emilio
that his first novel portrays local uprisings in a provin-
cial • -i area.
11
From the scarcity of documents on Rabasa's early
years, there is very little to be said about his childhood.
He received most of his education at home under the guidance
of his parents, a not uncommon practice in those days,
though he finished elementary school in Coita. He must have
participated in many activities, but only two were mentioned.
As a young boy, he became an able horseman, and horseback
riding was one of his favorite pastimes throughout his life.
Also during these years, his mother taught him to play the
pi ano.
With the definite triumph of the Reforma in l867»
President Benito Juarez was hopeful of establishing a last­
ing peace for Mexico. Too many years of bloody struggles,
individual passions and irreconcilable political beliefs
had prevailed; the entire republic was now demanding peace:
"A1 comenzar la era constitucional, el pais sentia ansia de
orden, de trabajo y de paz, y todas las circunstancias pare-
cian propias para obtener esos bienes y comenzar la tarea
12
el pueblo y su gobierno de consuno."
^Emilio Rabasa, La bola (Mexico City, 1887).
12 „
Rabasa, La evolucion, 75«