The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-03-26
SANTA ANNALS WIDOW.
The Sad Lot Of the Wife of the Once Dieta
tor of Mexico.

The Sud Lot Of the Wife Of the Once Dieta-
tor Of Mexico.
A striking example of the vicissitudes
of life is furnished by the history of
President Santa Annals widow, who
lives here in a sort of clustered seclu-
sion. Not that she is poor, for she has
ample means; not that she is unhappy.
not that she could not, if she chose. at
tract to her drawing room limited
circle of friends and acquaintance, but
simply because she has no energy; is in
reality too indolent to take or even feel
any interest in the ordinary affairs of
the world and passes her days in arOck-
ing-chair, idly dreaming.
When General Santa Anna married
Dolores TOsta she was extremely beau
tiful, but was an unsophisticated child.
only thirteen years of age, who from
her birth had been used to abject pow
erty, and she was therefore quite dazed
when her enamored spouse installed
her in regal style and ordered every
body to address her as ''Sue Alicia"
(your Highness). However. by the aid
of governesses, tutors and ''ladies-in-
waiting" she was soon able to play her
part in the great world which at first
seemed to her wonderland. As Santa
Anna was at that epoch a dictator
rather than a constitutional President,
his whims were humored and orders inn
plicitly obeyed. When his young wife
attended mass priests, followed by their
acolytes bearing large gilded cross
and lighted tapers, sailed forth to
escort her from her coach to her
seat in the cathedral and at the con-
clusiOn of the ceremony accompanied
her to the pavement and stood there,
with bowed heads and downcast eyes.
until her carriage disappeared. The
Dictator, to further honor his bride,
organized for her bOdy-guard of
twenty-five gentlemen, who were
chosen from the highest rank of officers
in the military service. This guard
wore rich white uniform, profusely
trimmed with gold lace. They were
called LOS MOsqueterOs de Su Alteza'
(Her Highness' Musketeers) and when
ever '.Su Alteza'' attended the theater
the guard rode in front and at the sides
of her carriage, each bearing lighted
torch. During the performance these
mOsqueteros remained in the corridor
81 the theater, ready to escort their
princess to the palace.
At the conclusion of the war Of
1861, between Mexico and the
United States, General Santa Anna,
who had resisted the American force
long and bravely. yet was defeated.
lost his prestige, was accused of vari-
GUS Observation-Disclosures of treason
and was banished by the dominant
party. Then his child-wife developed
into a nobie-hearted woman and tried
by every means in her power to console
the fallen Dictator. In 1874 the Mexi-
can Government permitted General
Santa Anna to return to his native land,
but the exile's spirit was crushed and
he died soon afterward, utterly
neglected h all parties and ignored by
all classes. even by men he had loved
and aided. Only his devoted wife re-
NAMED true to the last.
To-day none of the generation that
once bowed humbly before ''Su Alte'
za,' the Dictator's wife, seem to re-
member her existence and but few
young Mexicans are even aware that
she resides in this capital.-Aertco Cor.
Philadelphia Times.