Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-12

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diplomatic advantages 1cere recorded
for the United States, are to be
gained from the interesting story
i0ritten by ReT Collier, The Stars
DUN representative on the trip,
which began January 20. The story,
with all its intimate details, tUtu
continue in The Star until completed.
BY REX COLLIER.
Modern Lima basks in the glory Of
her romantic past.
Reverently she clings to old mem
cries, while keeping step with the pace
of an advancing civilization.
The capital of Peru boasts OF many
fine buildings of present-day conStruc-
ton, but sentiment leads her to house
the President of the republic IN
400-year-old palace in which the con-
quistadore, Pizarro, was asSaSslnated:
The quaint streets of the aged city
are congested with late model auto
mobiles of American manufacture, but
Lima chooses to transport the President
and other high dignitaries in barouches,
used long ago by Spanish viceroyS.
One of these curious conveyanceS,
drawn by four spirited horses and man
uGO NY 0lIfCA dl40 4OOtAAAUAA 40 wv >~~~~~C
uniforms, carried President Hoover
from the American embassy to the
Pizarro Palace for the preliminary re-
ception by President Leguia.
The historic palace, with its charm
ing patio of tropical Shrubbery, wind
ing walks and fountains; its high stuc-
coed walls of white, and It's imposing
reception halls, bathrooms and living
rooms. was built by Francisco P1zarro
when he founded the city OF Lima
in 1885. In it his adventurous career
came to a dramatic and bloody emo
at the hands of treacherous soldiers.
The old building had suffered from
quake and fire, necessitating reconstruc-
ton at intervals, but many OF the
original walls remained.
Cavalrymen Escort Party.
Cayalrymen escorted the Hoover car
rage to a great porte cochere, from
which a specially carpeted hallway leo
deep into the palace to the ornately
gilded and furnished reception ROOM
overlooking the patio.
The corridors were lined with palace
guards In colorful uniforms, and the pig
reception room was filled to capacity
with government officials, diplomats and
invited guests. At one end OF the room
was dais with throne chair OF
carved mahogany, and around the walls
were hung rare paintings, diplctlng OUT
standing events of Peruvian history.
President Leguia, a short, spare man
distinguished by keen eyes, white
noustache and friendly countenance,
walked onto the dais from q SIDE ooor
lust a moment or two before Mr.. and
MRS. Hoover entered. Full Of activity,
he shook hands rapidly with dozen
friends around him, conversing both
in Spanish and English as he greeted
various of the guests.
A trumpeter heralded the entrance OF
the Hoover party, and President Leguia
stepped down from the platform and
walked several steps forward to meet
his important visitors. The introduce
lions were made in most informal
fashion, President Leguia chatting
pleasantly for few minutes In perfect
English and displaying manners quite
democratic.
Defied Captors in 1909 Revolt.
Senior Leguia could be autocratic
when the occasion required, however.
Conspirators who had sought his life
during a previous term of Office, in 1909,
learned that those kindly features could
grow desperately firm when danger
threatens. The President, during the
1909 revolution, was overpowered by an
armed mob, paraded through the streets
of Lima to InquiSition Square and
threatened with immediate death unless
he resigned. It Is not characteristic of
Leguia to resign under duress, and he
defied his captors to do their worst. His
defiance inspired his loyal soldiers to
rush to the rescue and the conspirators
were put to fight.
President Leguia returned to the
American embassy with the President
elect and had luncheon there with Am
bassador Moore. The luncheon was
private and informal. Before leaving
President Leguia personally invited Mr..
and Mrs. Hoover to be his guests at a
state dinner In the palace that evening
Following the luncheon, the Hoovers
received the mayor and other municipal
officials OF Lima, and accepted their in
the city by automobile. Later in the
afternoon, members of the American
colony were received at the embassy
Sightseers Keep Busy.
Time did not permit Mr.. and Mrs.
Hoover to make the intensive sight
seeing round they had hoped to, but
others of their party were afforded an
opportunity to visit the venerable ca
thedral where lie the mummified bones
Of Pizarro; the Inca Museum, the Uni
versity of San Marcos, Oldest Of Amer
lean colleges, and other points of in
terest
English-speaking government officers
served as guides to the party in their
wanderings about the city. One OF
these hosts not only spoke English, but
used dialect peculiar to the Southern
part of the United States. He was DR.
John K. Breedin, native of Charleston
S. c., and erStwhile Dixie educator, but
now director Of education for Peru.
While guiding his guests about the
city, DR.. Breedin told an interesting
story of educational progress In Peru
He had introduced American methods
of instruction in the schools with
marked success. and education now was
receiving careful attention from the
government and Congress. School at
tendance was compulsory, but lack OF
classroom accommodation precluded
enforcement of the law, he said. Great
strides were being made in school con
struction, however. DIR. Breedin report
ed direct to President Leguia every
week and enjoyed the full confidence
of the latter.
This confidence, incidentally, had
been exhibited few days previous ir
connection with an unpleasant congress
sional incident, it was disclosed. A
legislator, for some unexplained reason
made q speech denouncing the policy OF
bringing outsiders into Peru to heir
run the government" DR.. Breedin was
not named, but he presumed the shaft
was aimed at him, so he at once sub
mitted his resignation to the President
The latter refused to accept it, and the
legislator who had made the yelled at
tack issued statement explaining thai
he had not had DR.. Breedin in minc
when he made his Speech From othe,