Old men and old women sold sweets, hot coffee, and tortillas and frijoles, also hot, in the streets.

Little plaster images of the saints and the Virgin were exposed on trays.

Donkeys loaded with vegetables, that had been brought across the lakes, bumped one another in the narrow ways.

Many officers in fine uniforms and many soldiers in uniforms not so fine could be seen.
Whatever else Mexico might be it was martial.

The great Santa Anna whom men called another Napoleon now ruled, and there was talk of war and glory.