Evening star., 1924-03-01
GUADAUARA HELD
SEMI.TROPICAL CITY
National Geographic Society Bull
letin Describes Important
Mexican Community.
TOUCH OF PARIS IS NOTED
Evidence of Wealth and Memen-
tos of Better Days.

The recapture OF the city of Guada-
lajara by federal troops in Mexico
means certain prestige for their
arms. bulletin from the headquar-
ters of the National Geographic So
ciety points out. because this is in
Importance the second city of the
republic, a community of wealth
and power.
There is something Of a Partisan
touch about Guadalajara," says the
bulletin. One senses a light gayety
in spite of the scars from a decade
of revolution and looting. A palm
filled plaza adds a semi-tropic note
which quite prepares the visitor to
learn that the gayety has a more
somnolent note than that which the
Champs Elysee or the Rue de la PaiX
have to offer. The banners of lottery
tickets, which ones line of sight
must thread to pass to the twin
domes of the yellowish- brown ca
thedral, speak eloquently of Latin
tolerance in the realm of chance.
Mementos of Better Days.
There is architecture in Guadala-
jara and evidence of wealth that may
be wholly a thing of the past or may
TO speak, awaiting the more settled
times that wealth demands, whether
in the tropics or near the poles.
Whole streets Of handsome private
residences speak of a more pros
porous day. The stocks of the shops
are sadly depleted by years of strife.
but the buildings that house them
are well built and ornamental The
hotels are clean and comfortable
This second city of Mexico always
H.,
women. and it still deserves its
reputation, though many of the
Wealthier families whose daughters
led the social world have taken UP
their residence in the United States
and Europe since Diaz fell. In the
good old days the ladies of the bet
ter world used to promenade in the
plaza of an evening when the band
played, the gentlemen marching in
the reverse direction. while the poems
stood deferentially outside admiring
the beauty and magnificence. But
this parade of the first families is
thing of the past. Now the poems
have the plaza to themselves and
march and countermarch with their
own women.
Says Customs Die Hard.
But basic customs die hard and
the visitor today is not denied
View of Guadala jara's beauties. Early
each Sunday afternoon for an hour
they drive up and down the narrow
main street between the cathedral
and little church a quarter of a
mile distant, smiling and greeting
their friends of the carriage class
Many of these first families OF
Guadalajara are of unmixed Spanish
blood. and their outlook on life,
despite revolutions and the democra-
tization of their government, is un-
compromisingly ariStocratic
In the city is a paint by Mu-
rillo. for which 100000 was once
offered. But the visiting art lover
Will look for it in vain. Great works
of art are not safe when revolution
stalks. and the authorities of the
cathedral, in which the magnificent
painting hung, saw to it that their
priceless charge went into hiding,
awaiting the return of a happier day
IN Mexico. The picture was the gift
of the King of Spain as a recognition
OF contributions from Guadalajara
during the peninsula war.
Climate Held Delightful.
"Guadala jara's climate is all thai
could be wished. Perhaps it is even
more. for each day, with its clear
blue sky and flood of sunshine. is
like the one that went before and
the one that will follow tomorrow
winter has no sting. 1t has little
to distinguish it, save that some
nights have a touch of frost to lend
an added sparkle to the air"