If the book succeeds in arousing a sympathetic interest in the struggles for Argentine independence and her subsequent progress, the editors will feel more than repaid. Upon that sympathetic interest must rest the ever growing Pan-American ideal to bring both Americas closer to each other. The editors gratefully acknowledge their obligation to the Pan-American Union, Washington, D.C., to The Hispanic Society of America, New York, and to Doubleday, Page & Co., New York, for their courtesy in permitting the reprinting of the article on the _Congreso de Tucumán_, taken from the July, 1916, number of _La Revista del Mundo_. To their colleague, Mr. Julian Moreno-Lacalle, the editors are sincerely grateful for valuable suggestions and for many kindnesses, which have made the work easier to accomplish. Thanks also are due to Professor F. B. Luquiens (of Yale), Messrs. H. K. Stone (of Grinnell College, Iowa), O. d'Amato (of the University of Illinois), and J. Pittaro (of the Stuyvesant High School, New York). GARIBALDI G. B. LAGUARDIA CINCINATO G. B. LAGUARDIA UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND 1919 CONTENTS PAGE DEDICATION v PREFACE vii INTRODUCTION xv BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES l HIMNO NACIONAL ARGENTINO 1 _Vicente López y Planes_ EL GAUCHO ARGENTINO 7 _Vicente Fidel López_ ORIGINALIDAD Y CARACTERES ARGENTINOS 22 _Domingo F. Sarmiento_ I. El Rastreador 36 II. El Baquiano 40 III. El Gaucho Malo 46 IV. El Cantor 49 ASOCIACIÓN 56 _Domingo F. Sarmiento_ La Pulpería 56 LEYENDAS DEL PAÍS DE LA SELVA 74 _C. O. Bunge_ (Según Ricardo Rojas) I. El País de la Selva, Sus Leyendas y Trovadores 74 II. Zupay 78 III. El Kacuy 80 LA LEYENDA DE SANTOS VEGA 86 _C. O. Bunge_ LA TRADICIÓN DE LUCÍA MIRANDA 91 _C. O. Bunge_ EL LUCERO DEL MANANTIAL: EPISODIC DE LA DICTADURA DE DON JUAN MANUEL ROSAS 98 _Manuela Gorriti_ I. María 98