Page:Life in Mexico vol 2.djvu/292



 Opera — Santa Anna and his suite — His appearance — Belisario — Solitary "viva!" — Brilliant house — Military Dictatorship — San Juan de Dios — Hospital de Jesus — Cuna — Old woman and baby — Different apartments — Acordada — Junta — Female prisoners — Chief crime — Travaux forcés — Children — Male prisoners — Forçats — Soldiers gambling — Chapel — Confessional — Insane hospital — Frenchmen — Different kinds of insanity — Kitchen — Dinner — Insane monk — "Black chamber" — Soldiers — College — Santa Anna's leg — Projects — All Saints — Señora Pa — Leave-takings.

4th November.

funcion was given in the Opera in honor of His Excellency. The theatre was most brilliantly illuminated with wax lights. Two principal boxes were thrown into one for the President and his suite, and lined with crimson and gold, with draperies of the same. The staircase leading to the second tier where this box was, was lighted by and lined all the way up with rows of footmen in crimson and gold livery. A crowd of gentlemen stood waiting in the lobby for the arrival of the hero of the fête. He came at last in regal state, carriages and outriders at full gallop; himself, staff and suite, in splendid uniform. As he entered, Señor Roca presented him with a Libretto of the Opera, bound in red and gold. We met the great man en face, and he stopped, and