Page:Life in Mexico vol 2.djvu/293

Rh gave us a cordial recognition. Two years have made little change in him in appearance. He retains the same interesting, resigned and rather melancholy expression; the same quiet voice, and grave but agreeable manner; and, surrounded by pompous officers, he alone looked quiet, gentlemanly and high bred. The theatre was crowded to suffocation; boxes, pit and galleries. There was no applause as he entered. One solitary voice in the pit said "Viva Santa Anna!" but it seemed checked by a slight movement of disapprobation, scarcely amounting to a murmur. The opera was Belisarius, considered à propos to the occasion, and was really beautifully montée; the dresses new and superb—the decorations handsome. They brought in real horses, and Belisarius entered in a triumphal chariot, drawn by white steeds; but for this the stage is infinitely too small, and the horses plunged and pranced so desperately, that Belisarius wisely jumped out and finished his aria on foot. The two prima donnas acted together—the wife and daughter of the hero—both about the same age, and dressed very well. But the Castellan's voice is not suited to the opera, and the music, beautiful as it is, was the least effective part of the affair. The generals, in their scarlet and gold uniforms, sat like peacocks surrounding Santa Anna, who looked modest and retiring, and as if quite unaccustomed to the public gaze! The boxes were very brilliant—all the diamonds taken out for the occasion. His Excellency is by no means indifferent to beauty—tout au contraire; yet I dare to say his thoughts were this night of things more warlike and less fair.