Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-07-10
Santa Anna,

d.
The following interesting account of 40 inter
view with Santa Anna is given in the Vdette,
of Mobile
1t was about the year lS56 that Santa Auna' S
absolute political power was broken. Siuce
then, with the exception of some unimportapt
part iu the French Intervention, his life has
been comparatively quet.
Happening few months since to be 10 the
city OF Mexico, and earoing that the old hero
Was then spending few weeks 10 bis city home
l determined, If possible, to crafty MY feel
lngs OF interest 10 his romantic career by secur.
ing an interview. Owing to mutual feeling
OF dislike existing between Santa Auna and the
Mexican people, the former holds himself in
great reserve. Ills roone are open to but a
few, aud 1t Is 20 easy matter to gain an au-
dleDce. Toward foreigners he is not so surly,
and II is generally much easier for stranger
to gain his private parlors than for a native
ctlzen Hon. Angel MARTINEZ. an old school,
fellow of mine, knew how to manage the thing.
however, and 10 very short time be had dis
covered the quarters Of one of Santa Annals
old time friends h Scuor Ferlcrgo, ex Gov.
ernor of the State OF Snaloa. This gentleman
agreed to take US around. and the time was
set when We Would meet hlm aud proceed t.
gether to the old Presidents rooms. At the
appointed time We were on hand. On reach
ing the patio of the old Spanish house on Yer
CARA street, we sent up our cards, and then
long pause ensued. In the course of half an
hour the servant came back aud informed US
that we could not see the President that even
Ing, but to come at the same time on the next
day. Five o'clock 10 the afternoon of the sec
~, II ID II A.
The servant was not gone so long this time but
ne came back with the same message MA.
Dyaoa los CHICO No one WAC has not travel
led in our Spanish American countries can
imagine how much aggravaion is concentrated
in that simple expression, "mauyana" 1t is
the first word that a foreigner learns on going
toto Mexico, and be finds that it is practically
applied from the simplest transactions OF every
day life up to matters OF the utmost moment.
do nothing to-day which by any possible
means you can put off until Tomorrow,
('manyana, y is the way the old adage is ap-
piled 10 our sister republic, aud one soon lcarns
to take 1t as a matter Of course. We went five
times with the old Governor to the Presidents
house before we finally obtained admission.
Long before this was heartily sick of the lob
and wanted to give it up, but Martinez laugh
ed at me, and Insisted on my ACCOMMODATING
him to the last. This is the way we do things
here, he laughed, you must not expect San
Francisco Dispatch Ga the evcuug of the
filth day we were conducted into long, neaty
furnished room facing the street A sofa stood
at one end with several chairs ara Iged around
IN sort OF halt-clrcle, aud directy over the
sofa hung lite sized painting Of Santa Anna 5
wife as she dOubl IS appeared forty years
ago She must have been very beautiful then,
if the picture is true to life. A piano stood 10
one corner, and several pieces of statuary here
and there gave Us some idea Of the old war
nor taste. There was no attempt al display
10 anything IN the room; everything was sim
pie and uudcmoustrative.
We hardly had time to cast hasty glance
about US before side door opened and Santa
Anna bimsef stepped into the room His pri-
vate secretary, Col Noso presented us, and al
ter shaking hands and making few common
place remarks to each one of us, he motioned
towards the chairs, and we all moved over and
sat down. My surprise at the appearance of
the old general was shared by my companion
Instead of the gray-haired old man that We cx-
pected to see. an upright, soldierIy figure stood
before US. His form was not yet bowed down
By the weight Of years, and his cool, black,
flashing eyes told that the fires of early life
were not yet all spent. lDcredblc as it may
seem, Santa Anna hair has not yet turned
gray, and his face has kindly, hopeful cx,.res
sion, strangely at variance with the wide spread
ideas of bis character. He wears no beard of
any kind and is as smooth-facvd as womau.
10 talking he is much troubled by badly fit
ting set OF false teeth, which fall from the
palate and he is slightly deaf. Il was in NOV
ng across the room and seating himself 90 the
sofa, however, that the inirmltes of his age
showed themselves most conspicuous. His false
leg troubled him, and | thought be showed
disposition to hide it, for after seating himself
very carefully, he threw it cut directly before
hlu and covered ii with the left. He sat up-
right, nor did he lean back or change his posi-.
too the whole hour that We were with him.
Santa Anna is slim built, about five feet ten in
height. and 10 his younger days must have been
a handsome man, as be is at present fine
looking old gentleman. He is laxative and
social, loves to recount his own exploits, and
seems to live at present altogether 10 the mast
He koows that the future holds nothing for