The New York herald., 1921-04-24
Name, However, Is Linked
Closely With Colombia Scene
of His Political Career.
HOW TO SEE THE COUNTRY
Place of Extremes, but Filled
With Adventure-Some-
thing About Bogota.
~ HARn1Er sau1ER HARDING.

tracing international attention, statue
of Georeg Washington, and II on the
following day the French Senate had
voted to pay to the United States a
huge indemnity: and II leading French
journals vaguely identified us as "one
OF the Central American republics" and
intelligent Frenchmen didn't even know
that George Washington was our lib
orator and first President--well, what
to0ftld we think of the French
Yet, these are not far fetched paral-
lels to what has happened In connec-
ton with the unveiling in New YORK
last week of the statue of Simon Bolivar.
Participation by the President or the
United States called attention TO the
great significance of the event. On the
following day our Senate voted the $25,-
100000 indemnity to Colombia, of which
Bolivar was the liberator and first Pres
ident. Still our leading digestive jour-
nal Of current literature and many or
our newspapers have been locating Co
ionbia in Central America, and we gem
erally display an equally woeful lack
or Knowledge and appreciation of Simon
Bolivar, his country and its people.
Ended Spanish Rule In Colon bin'
Although Venezuela was the donor of
the statue, and is proud of Simon Bon-
vars birth on Venezuelan SOIL. MS
name is linked more closely and 1nsep-
arably with Colombia. for there was de-
veloped much of his military and all OF
his political career NO one sour
American country has the right 10 claim
exclusively the heritage of his inspiring
memories. Bolivar opposed Spanish
colonial government in principle. anu
made common cause with its opponents,
first in his birthplace. Caracas. IN lslV'
and later wherever military eXpediency
sent him. In 1919 he commanded the
patriots in the terrible battle of Boyaca,
in the highland plateau of Colombia
(then New Granada). which ended the
rule Of Spain in Colombia In the same
year he united Venezuela and New
Granada under the title of the Republic
of Colombia and two years later at
tached Ecuador to this union, which
lasted until 1850.
The Colombian Constitution, which
Bolivar modelled after that Of the
United States. was adopted in 1921. and
he was elected President with Bogota
the capital. In 1926 Bolivar was re-
elected In 1898. differences having
arisen among the patriots. certain lead
ers at Bogota declared Bolivar dictator.
Conspirators attempted his assassina-
tion on September %. 1928. The Dictator
President escaped by jumping from a
window Of the palace window which
residents OF Bogota have pointed out to
me many time. Bolivar resisted in
trigue, unfriendliness and political in
gratitude, but the faithlessness wound
ed his spirit and racked his body.
In 1880 he convoked Congress and re
nounced his office after having several
times offered his resignation. Dying out
wardly from tuberculosis but inwardly
from a broken heart, the Liberator was
carried on a stretcher to the Caribbean
coast. where he died December II. 1880.
shrine of Liberated Peoples.
Six miles from Santa Marta-the Co
lombian port whence come bananas to
your table-the house where Simon
Bolivar died has become the Mount Yer
non OF Colombia and the shrine OF lib
Grated peoples from Venezuela to Bo-
Hyia. More picturesque than Mount
Vernon. San Pedro Alejandrino is set In
tropical verdure beside a beautiful
stream direct from the snow tipped ST.
ezra Nevadas standing sentinel over the
Caribbean. In the grounds, surrounded
by magnificent old trees. is a statue OF
Bolivar, and the house where he died is
q museum of arms and other mementoes
OF the liberator's brilliant career.
When you want new joy and grand
world that developed South Americas
George Washington. Its river boats are
not palatial, its mule trails are long and
wearying; you will encounter many dis
comforts, but you will find compensat-
ing joys in your travels. whether you
follow the byways or the boulevards,
and lodge in the mudfloored huts of the
humble poems or are guest in the homes
OF the cultured arstocracy. have en-
1oyed both extremes. But not every
body-no, not one-tenth Of the strangers
gets the real Joy out Of Colombia's
eurpassing scenery. historic cities and in
teresting people. Why do they miss 1T
How can you get It? Here's how.
Begin when you are very young. pref
erably when your father was a boy, 70
dlsabuse yourself OF the stupid, provin-
cial. unfounded, rheumatism breeding
happiness-killing. unchristian and In
tensely North American idea that there
is something wrong about everybody
who is not like us and that nothing
should be done excepting as I'VE" do It.
some Axioms TO Repeat.
Leave your prejudices at home and
take some knowledge OF Spanish with
you in your head. II possible. but a
least in dictionary and lesson book. i
necessary. stand in corner and repeat
hundred times daily the following
social axioms; IL you are a woman OF
past forty Increase the number Of times
Jop comes to the joDfut hearted, dd-
pent1tres TO the ddventprous.
Like things, and they totli be hkdblc
Hat Of iohat you see Is IN your eve.
After these ideas have struck in si'
still and mako spell upon yourself
then go and learn the country Of Simon
Bolivar. Amid the surprising beauty
of the Mount Vernon Of Colombia It will
ret ln upon your consciousness that free.
dom Is one, whether In North AmeriS !
or South. You will climb the sentinel
mountains outside the city Of Bogota
way up near the ridgepole of the conti-
nent. and feel reverent at the waysid'
shrines and the crowning chapel be
you Catholic or Protestant or hereto.
You win watch the almost daily pro
cessions or religious pilgrims and be
Hove. si least for q time, in the miracu
lous power or the rcHqttds they carry
you will be thrilled instead Of Jared by
the contrast between the elegantly clad
nristocrats passing IN carriages and th,
MANNED or loprous beggars that tn,
wheels just miss you will become ar
intimate OF some house in the ancien
part OF the city, remaining from th
sixteenth century beginnings Of SAINT,
Fe de Bogota, and prowl through col,
passag gcs. over tiled roofs, down mas
sive but disused. concealed staircase
70 strange hidden rooms. while besid
you stalks a sworded Spanlard Of tn,
fuouisitioni
-