Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-01-20
LIFE IN MEXICO.

| FS AN NLAiSVs o"i"6 o NCSiuSu%oO
Ten Years in that County," is the name o.
two duodeci'no volumes, jus. published a,
Boston, by Little e. Brown-not two thick
pamphlets. as is the style Of the day, with
leaves of whity-brown-but two fair vol.
tmes, after the Boston style of printing,
will, m'lk-whitc paper, and a clear, large
type. The author is Madame c. dc Ia
B.. by which, we are to understand, an
American lady, the wife of an in,clligen,
gentleman. formerly the Spanish minister to
this country. and afterwards sent by Spain,
in diplomatic capacity, to Mexico.
The work is a very delightful and interest
ing one. Life in Mexico is gwen in all its
hucs and forms, with skill in pencilline
which we had almost said could only belong
to woman Among that lively people and
in that picturesque region, she finds ample
occasion for the exercise of a talent of de.
lineation which she possesses in an uncom-
mon degree. In these sprigh,ly volumes,
the manners and country of Mexico seem
spread before US with almost as much dis
tinctness as in scenic representation. II
there is too much Of any thing. it is Of VIVA,
the Mexicans themselves have too much. re.
igous parades, professions, and other cerc-
monies. But, in general, nothing can be
more vivid and satisfactory than her sketch
es, whether Of high or low life.
A VISIT TO SANTA ANA IN 1882
"At length we began to see symptoms OF
vegetation, occasional palm trees and flowers,
and by the time we reached pretty Indian vii.
age, where we stopped to change mules, the
light had broken in, and we seemed to have
been transported, as if by enchantment, from a
desert to garden. 1t was altogether pictur.
esqne and striking scene; the hu,s composed
Of bamboo and matched with palm leaves the
I Indian women, with their long black hair, stand.
ing at the !oors, with their half.naked Children
Tho mules, rolling themselves on the ground,
according TO their favorite fashion-snow. white
goats brows ng amongst the palm.trees, and the
air soft and balmy, the first breath Of the morn.
ing; the dew.drops still glittering on the broad
leaves of the banana and palm, and all around
silent, rool and still.
The hu's, though poor, were clean; no win.
dows, but certain subdued light made its way
through the leafy canes. We procured some
tu'nblers OF new milk, and having procured
mules, pursued our journey, now no longer
through hills of sand, but across the country,
through wilderness of trees and flowers, the
glowing productions of the TERRA caliente. We
arrived about five o'clock at Mangade Clayo, at.
ter passing through leagues Of natural garden,
the property of Santa Ana.
The house is pretty, slight looking, and kept
in Lice order. I'VE were received by an aid.dc
camp in uniform. and by several officers, and
conducted 10 large, cool, agreeable apartment,
with little furniture, into which shortly entered
the Sonora de Santa Ana, tall, thin, and at that
early hour OF the morning, dressed to receive
us, in clear white muslin, with white satin shoes,
and with very splendid diamond earrings,
brooch and rings. She was very polite, and in.
troduced her daughter, Guadalupe, a miniature
OF her mamma, in features and costume
In a little while entered General Santa Ana
himself; a gentlemanly, good lookng, quietly.
dressed, rather melancholy looking person, with
one leg apparently somewhat of an invalid, and
! To us tie most interesting person in the group
tie has sifrw complexion, fine dark eyes, soft
and penetrating. with an interesting EXPIRE ssiou
OF face. Knowing nothing Of his past history
one would have said "a philosopher, living in
dignihed retirement; one who had tried the
world, and found that ali was vanity; one who
had suffered lngratitude, and who, if he were
ever persuaded to emerge from his retreat, woult
only do so Cincinnatus.l like, TO benefit his coun
try. 1t is strange how frequently this express
ion of Philosophc resignation of placid sadness
is to be remarked on the countcnances of The
deepest. most ambitious and most designing o
men. CO gave him letter from the
Queen, of Spainl written on The suppositior
OF his being still President, with which hi
seemed weII.pleased, but merely made the limo
cent observation slow very well the Queer
writes :"
1t was only now and then that the expres.io,
OF his eye was startling. especially when hi
spoke of his leg, which is cut off below IN,
knee. lie speaks Of it frequently, like 81
John Ramorny of his bloody hand and wbe,
he gives an account of his wound, and alude
to the French on that day his countenance as
sumes that air Of bitterness which Ramornv'
may have exhibited when speaking Of Hair,
the Smith,"
Otherwise he made himself very agreeable
spoke great deal Of the United States, and o
the persons whom he had known there, and i,
his manners was quiet and gentleman. like, an,
altogether, more polished hero than | ba,
expected to see. To Judge from the past, h,
will not long remain in his present state Of in
action.
Breakfast was announced. The Sonora d.
Santa Ana led me in. Al
ter breakfast, the Sonora despatched an Office
for her cigar-case-which was gold, with dia
mond laich-ofered me a segar, which hay
ing declined, she lighted her own-a little pa
per c,gdrito, and the gentlemen followed he
good example.
The lady. however, informs US, tina, tn
practice Of ladies smoking, has become IN
fashionable among the genteel society O
Mexico, being confined mostly to elderly Ia
dies, who canno, give it up; and being vo
ted vulgar, will probably not survive ano.he
generation.
A COUNTRY BULL FIGHT.
In the afternoon we all rode to the Plaza d
roros. The evening was cool, our horse
good. the road pretty and shady, and the Plaz
itself a most picturesque enclosure surrounde
by lofty trees. Chairs were placed for us on
rising platform; and the bright green Of III
trees, the flashing dresses of the toreadors tn
roaring of the fierce bulls, the spirited horse,
tho ,nI ha A. IL