The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-02

Emperor Williams noted summer pal
ace of Achillion, on height overlooking
the Bay Of Corfu, had the French flag
flying over it when we drove up for a
visit today. At the gateway the arms
of the Hohenzollerns blazed from the
massive iron gates thrown back on
either side. But these proud arms were
for the moment obscured by the solid
ranks Of French soldiers, native troops
from French Senegal in the heart of
Africa, black as coal, in the Frepch grey
uniform with red fez They saluted the
French officers as we passed through
the gate, and their trumpeter sent a
French bugle call echoing through the
German emperor's gardens
All about were evidences that French
had replaced German direction at this
imperial establishment, and that instead
of being summer plaything for ma.
jesty, il was now being put TO some
real use. The island itself is tenn
porarily under a French military gov
ernor, French battleships and cruisers
crowd the harbor and dominate the
heights, and French soldiers and sailors
make up a considerable part of this
medley Of races emptied into Corfu by
the stress OF war. Here at the palace
grounds we passed French red cross
nurses tending wounded French soldiers
in the olive groves and one Of the high
officers Of the French medical service
came from the palace to greet the party
as it arrived
Curiosity of East.
This palace Of the emperor is one Of
the curiosities Of the east and is typical
in many ways Of the eccentric genius
which conceived it, There are palaces
the world over, but nothing quite like
this exists anywhere only Emperor
William could have developed such an
idea. The whole scheme is imperial and
heroic. The palace is planted on the
very spot where Ulysses came for his
soJourns and from the imperial cham
ber one looks out on the classic island
of Ulysses where the great hero spent
his leisure hours. Like Ulysses. En-
peror William came here for his leisure.
and every May until the war began the
imperial yacht circled Europe from the
North sea TO the eastern Mediterranean
In order that he might enjoy these clas.
sic and heroic surroundings during the
loveiest period of the year.
Looking down the steep cliff one sees
the imperial landing place where IN,
yacht was moored during these visits.
Here the emperor first set foot reaching
the palace by a flight Of steps hewn
In the rock, lined with marble statues
OF Greek deities. or If he did not wish
the climb. an auto took him through
the miles Of drive in the olive grove
making gradual ascent to the lofty pal.
ace.
The palace dominates a vast stretch
OF land and water-Albania just across
the strait, then Greek Epirus TO the
south, the mountains and valleys OF
Corfu near at hand, Italy lying low in
the dim distance TO the west. and the
clear blue waters Of the Adriatic reach.
ing in all directions through the tangle
OF Islands. II is suggestive Of imperial.
ism and one thing Of what Emperor
William had in mind when ne looked
out on this circle Of many lands and
thelf strategic waters
That Statue Of Achilles.
There is one definite clue 10 his
thoughts, in the heroic statue Of
Achilles which he built al the highest
point dominating all this land and water.
The statue Is Of bronze showing the
hero armed from head 10 foot. sword
in hand and shield on his breast. strain.
ing forward for the fight and looking
intenuy out on this empire of foreign
lands and waters spread al his feet
Ferhaps William had In mind something
more than toy palace dedicated To
Ulysses and Achilles. and that the old
Trojan heroes revived dreams Of uni.
versal conquest.
The palace Is Of white marble. square.
iy and solidly built after the Greek
classical design, with the suggestion
that "a German hand had moderrized
tne old classical lines Along the mid.
dle front, facing the sea. runs a deem
wide marble gallery or porch. and glmi. |
var Wide galleries are at the eastern
end where the entrance is located The
building is three stories high. with a |
frontage Of about five hundred feet
ana has about one hundred rooms. in.
Guiding BAH rooms state dining rooms
rcya chapel. and the suites of i'm.
perial chambers. The marble columns /,
OF the galleries, the window cornlces
and friezes along the front. are an es. |
senually Greek. and the whole place
mas the massiveuess and majesty OF :
Greek temple.
Entering the main hal Il was not
clear whether one was I'm a palace or |
temple or "A museum. Immediately IN
the right was the royal chapel with |
The large fresco Of Munkacsy's Chris, 4
oetore Plate back OF the altar. Nv
an ingenious electrical contriyanoe n
Hood Of light could be- turned ON ,o |
the central figures Of the fresco. giving |
ln'm sort Of luminous and living ~. 1
rect almost as cinema, though IL
seemed queer contrivance for a chanel
ohe could hear murmur OF "bocbe" |
run among the visitors indicating their |
view mat a vandal hand had put TO.
sether this mass Of fresco and effec, |
Elaborate frescoes and mirrors co, |
eIeu the ceilings and side walls OF the /
S,"'e 9ining room The subjects were !
always drawn from Greek ap,jop,,, |
nut the figures OF dancing nymphs ana |
lawns looked rather bea,.,. ,. -, Z