Evening star., 1935-04-14
The Quatro.Centenary of Lima
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Four hundred years ago Francisco
Pizarro, the Conquistadore, who rose
to be marquis and viceroy of Spain
in America, founded the City of Kings
in the strange new world Of the Incas.
Lima, as the city now is known, has
ever since been the capital city Of
Peru. It's quatro-centenary has a
special interest for the people OF
the United States because for SO
many years it was capital Of America
and because II was leader Of culture
in the Western World.
There is special, narrower inter-
est for the people OF Washington, the
National Capital Of this country, In
that, like Washington. the City Of
Kings was laid out whole, in ac-
cordance with a geometric plan in
much the same manner that Mai.
lEnfant laid out, at the behest Of
Gen. Washington, the Northern seat
Of government. A checker-board
pattern was followed. with squares
and open plazas. and. in spite Of
VI NlIbDolbudCSg bAiAo
pattern has endured. Viewed from
the air. Lima presents an appearance
not unlike that Of Washington, save
that, in the distance rise the foot
hills Of the lofty Andes.
The 400th anniversary OF the found
ing of Lima will be celebrated with
many special observances, officials Of
the United States Government. as
well as many private tourists, taking
part.
There is curious glamour about
Lima which probably excels that Of
any other city of Latin America. Its
very early foundation, the circum-
stance that for so long it was the vice
regal seat in America, its artistic his
tory, its long tale Of military and
natural tragedy. and its present day
beauty have all combined to confer
upon the City Of Kings an atmos-
phere all its own.
There is scarcely an American
schoolboy who has not thrilled to the
exotic tale of Francisco Pizarro and
his Conquistadores. His overcoming
Of the Incas, his explorations, his
bravery and his cruelties make up a
moving splendor. Nor is there any
close student of history who has not
read that classic, Prescott's Conquest
OF Peru" still hailed as one OF the
finest examples of historical exposi-
/ ton.
Peculiar interest attaches to the
fact that the first university in the
Western World was founded at Lima
Under a special grant Of Charles v,
the Universidad Mayor de San Marcos
was established in 1851. At first un-
der the special protection of the Do
minican order. 20 years later it was
secularized. 1t has continued to func-
ton as an institution Of higher learn
ing in the four centuries which have
intervened. It was an old school when
William and Mary and Harvard we're
established in Colonial North America.
Indeed, its faculty was famous at
European capitals before the landing
at jamestown or the landing of the
Pilgrims.
City Remains as Planned.
Although Pizarro founded several
cities in the course of his conquest of
Peru. Lima was most favored by him.
Its site. some 800 feet above the near
by sea, was regarded as especially
beautiful. With a temperature seldom
dropping below 81 in Winter or rising
above 80 in Summer, it Is dry save in
the Winter months when there is fog
With sea on one side and mountains
on the other, the City of Kings de-
serves its name.
On the same day that Pizarro Sc
lected the site, he laid the cornerstone
Of the. cathedral where his remains
still repose. Since then so other
churches have been erected. The
architectural beauties of Lima are
| many. While tremendous earth
| quake in l746 destroyed many of the
more ancient structures. vestiges re-
main, and the rebuilding in that
colonial period followed the same gen.
eral lines. Indeed, there still are very
many buildings which give a distinctly
/ Moorish impression with an overlap