The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-07-19
HISTORICAL
FORTRESS
President De La Huerta Of Mexico
Moves Into the Old Castle
Which Carranza Had
Summed.
[By Ralph H. Turner, United Press
Staff CORRESPONDENT.

a
Staff Correspondent
CITY OF MEXICO. July 7-(By
MaiD Famous Chapultepec castle
splendid1y poised high above the
park bearing the same name and
overlooking the wide valley of Mexi
CO, is once more the home of Mexi
can ruler.
1t was this historic castle, EN-.
ployed as fortress, that the Ameri-
cans stormed and captured back In
1S47; and on the same spot, many
years before, one of the Montezumas
converted the fortress into summer
residence, where he established his
harem, baths and hunting lodge.
Chapultepec, besides its historic as
sociations and the magnificent view
it commands of the Mexican valley,
also wins fame from the fact that 1t
is one Of the most luxuriously APP
pointed residences on the American
continent But it held few charms
for that bewhiskered old ranchman,
Venustiano Carranza. Carranza
spurned Chapultepec, summer and
winter On rare occasions he used
the palace as place for entertain
ment, but as a living place he pre-
ferred the simplicity Of plain dwell
ing in the capitals residence dis
trict.
To the more cultured eye Of Adolfo
de la Huerta, the new provisional
president, Chapultepec had more ap-
peal. De la Huerta moved into the
castle, bag and baggage, few days
after he had been inaugurated. 1t is
not mean to create the impression
that the new Mexican ruler is fond
of frilIs. Far from it. In many lines
of administration, De la Huerta has
abolished forms of pomp that even
Carranza tolerated. But De la Huerta,
the practical Sonoraite, probably rea-
soned that the castle was already fur
aished that if he didn't occupy it, 1t
would remain vacant and that apart
ments in Mexico City were mighty
scarce. SO he called the moving van
and Chapultepec castle is today the |
regular residence" of Mexican
for the first time since the
laws of the other Huerta, the one
who drew the frowns of President
"The view is unsurpassed" as the /
.eal estate boomer might say, but
Adolfo de la Huerta, as he stands on .
he castle balcony, won't survey the
same scenic beauty as filled the eyes
If his historic predecessors. Bayard
Taylor thought the most beautiful |
yiew in the world was that of the !;
yale of Cashmere, and after it the |
ralley of Mexico from Chapultepec
heights. But politics-revolution !
politics has changed the vista since I
Montezuma sought distraction from
cares and communed
With dryad oracles in the hallowed
.roves of ancient Ahuehuetes."
But De la Huerta may still revel in
he comfort of luxurious interior.
Maximilian, the Austrian archduke
Who became emperor of Mexico, fur.
,ished the castle with the most ex-
uisite productions of Europe-mar-
lie statues, alabaster vases, period
urniture, oriental rugs-achievlng
10Th elaborateness and comfort. In
S66, at the orders Of Macmillan, the
astle was renovated, the corridors
yere adorned with voluptuous pic
ures after the style of Pompeiian
lila. and the grounds were terraced.
lost of the pictures are gone today.
There still remain, however, the
avorite boudoir of the Empress Car
ota. it's walls adorned in pink satin
rocade; the dining salon, finished
4 beautifully carved Alsatian oak,
nth panels of Gobelin tapestries;
he ambassadorial department. pink
nd gold in Louis XIV style; and