Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-07-20
MEXICAN RULER
LIVES IN CASTLE
Huerta Residence OverlOOks
Wide Valley.

CITY OF MEXICO, July 2o.-Famous
Chapultepec castle, splendidly poised
high above the park bearing the same
name and overlooking the wide valley of
Mexico, is once more the home of a Mex
lean ruler.
1t was this historic castle, employed as
fortress, that the Americans stormed
and captured back in 1917; and on the
same spot, many years before, one of
the Montezumas converted the fortress
into a summer residence, where he estab-
lished his harem, baths and hunting
lodge.
Chapultepec, beside sits historic asso
Citations and the magnificent view it com
mands of the Mexican valley, also wins
fame from the fact that 1t is one of the
most luxuriOusly appointed residences
on the American continent.
But it held few charms for that be
whiskered old ranchman, Venustiano Car
rama.
Carranza spurned Chapultepec, sum
mer ard winter.
On rare occasions he used the palace
as a place for entertainment, but as a
living place he preferred the simplicity
of a plain dwelling in the capitals resi-
dence district.
CHAPULTEPEC
HAS APPEAL.
To the more cultured eye of Adolfo de
Ia Huerta, the new provision president,
ChaPultepec had more appeal.
De Ia Huerta moved tintO the castle,
bag aud maggage, few days after he
had been inaugurated.
1t is not meant TO create the impress
sion that the new Mexican ruler is fond
of frills.
Far from it.
In many lines of administration. De la
HuertO has abolished form of pomp that
even Carranza tolerated
But De la Huerta, the practical sono-
rate, probably reasoned that the castle
was already furnished; that if he didn't
occupy it, 1t would remain vacant and
that apartments in Mexico City were
mighty scarce.
SO he called the moving van and
Chapultepec castle is today the regular
residence" of a Mexican president for
the first time since the days of the other
Huerta, the one who drew the frowns
Of President Wilson.
"The view is unsurpassed" as the real
estate boomer might say, but Adolfo de
la Huerta, as he stands on the castle bal
cony. won't survey the same scenic
beauty as filed the eyes of his historic
predecessors.
Bayard Taylor thought the most beau
tiful view in the world was teat of the
vale Of Cashmere and after 1t. the val
ley Of Mexico from Chapultepec heights.
But politics-revolution politics
has changed the vista since "Alontezuma
songhr distraction from administrative
cares and communed with dryad oracles
in the hallowed groves Of ancient Ahue-
huetes"
But de Ia Huerta may still reyel in the
comfort Of a luxurious interior.
ART PRODUCTIONS
NOW MISSING.
Macmillan, the Austrian archduke who
became emperor OF Mexico, furnished
the castle with the most exquisite pro
ductions of Europe-marble statues. ala
baster vases, period furniture oriental
rugs-achieving both elaborateness and
comfort.
In 1865 at the orders of Macmillan.
the castle was renovated, the corridors
were adorned with volupuous pictures
after the style OF a Pompeian villa. and
the grounds were terraced.
Most Of the pictures are gone today.
There still remain, however, the favor
tie bOudoir Of the Empress Carlotta, Its
walls adorned in pink satin brocade; the
dining sdlbL, UulsNeu III bthNttiA AA9
carved Alsatian oak, with panels Of
Gobelin tapestries; the ambassadorial de
partment, pink and gold IN Louis XIV
style: and countless other furnishings
which still retain their excellence In
Guiding the mahogany bed In which Elihu
Root rested his closely cropped hea0
when on a mission to the old Diaz gov
eminent.
Construction Of the castle was begun in
1873, but did not reach its present state
until many years afterward
Today 1t covers almost the whole top
Of Chapultepec, which, in the Aztec Ian
guage, means GrasshOppers hill, So
called from the number Of insects that
once infested the region.
Under the Carranza regime visitors in
spected the castle upon obtaining special
permits.
1t is still open to visitors. but BEING
the presidents residence, permits are
more difficult to obtain and the hours Of
inspection more limited.