Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 1.djvu/292

264 had been devoted to the enrichment of the President's treasury.

Although, since the war with the United States, Santa Anna has been disgraced and banished,—the people of Mexico becoming at length wearied of his rule, and disgusted with his unscrupulous character,—a political faction in the capital remained, until very recently, faithfully devoted to his interests, and hopeful of his return to power.

The following anecdotes belong to the time when, in spite of the outbreaks he had to quell, and the financial embarrassments with which he had to grapple, he devoted some portion of his time to the cultivation of the arts of peace, and, among other institutions, visited and fostered the Academy of Fine Arts.

A remarkably tall and fine-looking Indian, from a distant province, had made his way to the city; and, after loitering for a time about the streets in great destitution, had enlisted into the army,—where his superior appearance and steady habits were the means of his promotion through several ranks, until at length he was placed in the select body-guard of the General. It happened that a vagabond brother had borne this Indian company on his journey