The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-07-27

merry, or with her marriage, and thence
forth she is, in most parts of the country,
shut up within her house, never going out
alone, and mingling with society only at
the ball or the testd In the large cities,
where French manners prevail, the ladies
may be seen at the table or in the parlor
with their families. In the country, the
tttkendeiro receives and entertains a guest
and one may spend month in a taEenold
without being introduced to the lady Of
the house or her daughters, and without
seeing them at all except at the chapel
Thus secluded from everyday society and
surrounded by servants, the ladies ofthe
fasenla lead an aimless and inert life, one
which, from its inactivity, tells on them
physically as well as morally. Music
French novels, and gossip are their re-
creations, and they are sentimental and
wholly void Of the energy and stability Of
character of the American or English
woman. The want Of education and the
secluson of the Brazilian woman unfit
her for the proper training of her children,
who grow up in the society Of the young
slaves and really receive their first edu-
cation through them The mothers are
the making Of nation, Brazil needs
good system Of female education, and
placing of woman on her proper level as
an intellectual companion to man. before
she can come up to the same intellectual
and moral standard with other civilized
nations.
There are many collegiate institutions
in Brazil, as in Rio, Bahia, Pernambuco,
and elsewhere, some of which are well en-
dowed and have large stats of professors,
but there being no demand for liberal
generous culture, these institution fall far
below the rank Of the high schools of the
United States, and their graduates are
scarcely fitted to enter one Of our colleges.
There is great ambition among the
wealthier Brazilians to educate their SONS
for a professional life, and especially for
the bar, and the country is flooded with
young lawyers, candidates for political
honors. One is astounded at the number
OF youthful doctors of law and judges he
meets with The Brazilians are very
polite and courteous people, and very fond
of complimentary speech-making and dis
cussions They cultivate neat horid
style, and write we'll though with little
depth. An American is much struck
with the readiness, huency graceful die
ton, and animated delivery OF the Bra
lillian orator, and nothing could excel in
delicate compliment, roundness, and turn
ing of sentences, or warmth of style Of an
atter-dinner speech Evenings are spent
among Brazilian gentlemen in conversa-
ton which is most likely to turn upon
politics, aud then becomes exceedingly
animated The Brazilian is particularly
easy, fluent, and polished in conversation,
and is more given to discussion than we
are. They are very apt at acquiring for
eign languages, and a speaking acquaint
ance with several is not uncommon. Mu-
sic is much cultivated in Brazil and there
are probably more gentlemen in hundred
in Brazil who play on some musical in
strument than with liz. The piano, guitar
and flute are the favorite instruments
The music most admired is the Italian,
Portuguese, and French. One need not
feel surprised at hearing "Akche Ia morteI r
nicely performed on the flute everywhere
There is popularity about the Brazilian
, national music which it is very difficult
to describe 1t is montonous and melan'
choly, and there is great fondness for q
singular mode of beating time, rest fol
lowing in the first beat in the measure OIL
80, =, tha
culiarity in the Spanish music of tn,
West Indies and South America. The
music of the lower people is very plain
tive, sentimental, and monotonous-t
; expression of life devoid of vigorous
culture, Of morality and religion dimly
appreciated and worshiped as an idea,
Nominally, the religion of Brazil ia The
Roman Catholic but the influence Of Du
mas and Paul de Kock, ct hoc omne genus
has had terrible effect The ruined
churches everywhere tell Of religious de
, , cay the profigacy and immortality of tn,
priesthood, and the open expression of in
fdel views, present sad picture. Th'
Virgin receives an outward worship, bu
it is not the homage of the heart Is i
then to be wondered at that, in a country
where the religious teachers are, as {
class, men of immoral lives purity ant
truth, though worshipped in song, should
fail to be exemplifed in the lives of thu
y people ?
In business, the Brazilian is sharp an(
nscrupulous Let me give an instance
to illustrate his mode of dealing. | haC
been kindly treated in the Province o
> Minas Geraes by young mulatto mer
= chant, who had given me free passag
with him in his canoe down the river TIE
quitnhonha. Money ran low, 1t wa
> impossible to draw any, SO there was nj
c resource other than that of selling par
of my baggage, l had good hammock
new and unused, for which | had givei
: eight milreis on the coast, where they
d were very cheap, So l produced it anc
e offered it to the merchant for what | orig
k inally gave for it. 1t was no use-h
b would give no more than half that sum
d 1t was used and worn, etc, etc, At tn,
l. last moment | parted with it for the price
|, Presently there came i'll friend. Tn
e merchant unrolled the hammock aud dis
i played it with the same words Of commen
h dation had used, and said it had cos
/ eight milreis, but he would cell it for nine
l. and that in my presence
Il AS planter, the Brazilian is noted 70
: his hospitality, courtesy, and pride, Moth
+ ing can exceed him in the kindness wit
= which he receives and entertains traveller
J A letter of introduction from a friend oh
L tains for one Immediately the freedom G
the .tase"da but many time, whe
} weary and travel-worn | have descrie
the roof of planters house at night-ial
u u my request for shelter has been granted
y my mules have been taken care of, anC
Is overwhelmed with thousand attention