The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-06

LEOTUR E.-The Rev. Alexander
Blackford delivered highly instruc-
tive lecture in the Presbyterian church
in Martinsville, on Tuesday evening
subject BRAZIL" which the speaker
handled intelligently. Mr.. B. left his
home near Martinsville nine years ago
as missionary.to South America, and
by the authorities of the Presbyterian
church WAS assigned to Rio de Janeiro
where he has labored most OF the time
occasionally going out into the interior
and working for weeks against the
wide spread influence of Catholicism.
The lecturer reviewed the condition of
that country from away back among
its darker ages,up to the present, though
but comparatively little could be said
of it until 1922, when Don Pedro, acced-
ing to the expressed will of the people,
declared it a free and independent state,
himself ruling as Emperor. The con-
stiIution submitted at that time was in
great measure copied from that gov
erning England.
The established religion of the coun-
try is Roman Catholic. The govern
ment is monarchial and representative.
The legislative power is vested in
General Assembly, consisting of two
cham bers-the Senate and Chamber OF
Deputies. The first is elected for life
and the latter for four years. The leav-
en- of Republicanism is at work and but
a few years will pass away until that
government is radically changed. The
effete ideas and deadened impulses of
those who have served for years and
years in their Senate must in little
while give way to meet the demands of
an advanced education which is gain
Ing strong foothold all over that coun-
try, and which will tend to blot out
Monarchy from that otherwise favored
land.
AS yet there is almost total lack of
individual enterprise. The govern
ment has established first class Law
and Medical Colleges throughout the
different provinces, which are conduct
ed by men OF great talents. These
schools are slowly undermining the
present form of government.
In all the towns and cities there are
professorships of Greek, Latin, French
and English, together with mathemat-
les, philosophy, geometry and other
high branches, while the press is as free
as it is in the United States.
The teachers in the common schools
as general thing, hold their position
for life. as the process for dismissing
them for incompetency is such that few
care to undertake it.
The political machinery is managed
there very much after the style OF this
country. The members Of the cham
Der OF deputies, together with the EN-
peror, use their money and influence
to have themselves returned again.
In some respects it is a paradise for
the fair sex. There, leap year never dies
Quit is eternal; and it being the GUS
tom, nothing is thought of a young lady
proposing to a gentleman, provided the
gentleman himselfthinks nothing of it.
More than one American is living hap
PLY In Rio to-day, because OF the
kindness of the importuning ladies of
that city. It is considered to be border
ing on the shameful for young lady
not to be married before she is twenty
one years of age.
The work and influence of the mis-.
sionaries in that country Is resulting in
great good, and is permeating through
all the provinces, Notwithstanding
there are but few workers in that field.
Mr.. Blackford is.spending few weeks
here visiting his many friends, after
which he will return to the same field
for duty. as z...--.--.-
A LARGE stock of heavy Black Silks