Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-23

tirely nude, aud even the young Of the
higher classes, baYe A. little clothing as
decency will permit. was amused al an
account given BY q gentleman connected
with an American house 81 ParambucO,
who said on one occasion he had distributed
from his waroroom one thousand bags, and
thought be had clothed nearly all the poor
men In the neighborhood. They took the
bags and made them into a kind Of petit
coat, and these we're the only articles Of
dress required. The higher classes Of gen
tlemen dress with great care and neatness.
The natives are very exeitable, are fond Of
music, and dancing, and especially Of
noise. Fire works are one Of our success
fol imporiations, and are displayed on all
occasions, the noisy part giving great sat
lsiaetion. They are set on as much IN the
day time - the night. The climate Is
very weakening, there being a rainy and
dry season, although IN many places there
ie no regularity. The showers come up on
short notice, 50 that you know not At What
moment the flood gates Of heaven may
open upon you, consequently umbrellas are
often carried all the time, doing a double
duty as protection either from the rain
or sun. As . general thing. the people
eaunOt be called oleanly, and II is astonish-
ing how little water is used for cleansing
purposes; it is always cold, as you cannot
prev all on a Brazilian 20 put bis hands in
hot water; securing Of all kinds is done
with cold. stood upon q bridge at Per
nambueO and counted at one time forty
women washing In the margin Of a stream
soiled clothing. / really think there would
be less sickness II more soap and water
we're used, but great allowances have 10 be
made for these people on account Of lack
Of energy, caused, doubtless, by the ex-
treme heat.
The people pride themselves on their
polteness and the forms Of etiquette en-
forced amounts almost TO a weakness. ]
think they would sooner forgive a breach
OF principle than one OF etiquette For
eigners are obliged to be very careful not
TO indulge too much in tropical fruits
when they first go there. Too many ex-
pose themfelves injudieiously TO the scorch-
ing rays Of the sun, eat abundAntly Of the
delicious fruits, and sometimes drink guam
titles OF liquor, and consequently fall q
prey to the treacherous climate. Il is
stated that yellow fevernearly always com
mences In the foreign shipping. II proper
precaution was used half Of the deaths
might be avoided. It Is a country Of great
richness, and there Is no doubt that when
foreign ideas and improvements become
generally introduced, and our sanitary
laws adopted, il will not be so undesirable
as place OF abode.
At present there are to be seen many of
our inventions, as we'll as many from Eng
land, rendering residence there more
tolerable.
The BRAZILIAN race is a diminutive one;
the ladies are mostly pretty with fine black
eyes and an abundance Of raven hair. They
are languid, though courteous, and are
very easily amused. The men are bright
and intelligent. with an eager desire to
please, being amiable with their friends,
and reyengeful with their enemies. People
who have not been TO Brazil have a false
estimate OF the country, thinking it par
adise. Now It has many great natu-
raj advantages-manY good, kind, intelli-
gent people; but it also has its disadYan-
tages. In some parts it is healthy; in 9th
ers it is most unhealthy; it has its wonder
ful productions, its great mineral wealth,
its precious stones, its vast territory, its
abundance Of fruit and flowers, and sweet
scented airs. its balmy evenings, and glo-
rious moonlights, its sweet singing birds,
and gapdy butterflies. On the other hand
1t has its putrid fevers and plaques, its
wild beasts to alarm, and insects to annoy
you, so that whilst You see much to ed
mire, you also soc much TO condemn.
Without prejudice haYe tried in this
brief summary to give some little idea Of
the habits Of a people, the customs Of a
country about which so much has been
said, yet so little understood. Some ac-
counts giving such glowing descriptions
that the poor wanderer thinks he is land
ing in Paradioe when he places his foot up
on Brazilian ground, and probably the
poor fellow never has strength to return
after eneountering the diseases Of the eli
mate.
Now to those who wish 10 20 there, l
would say, go expecting TO find a kind,
good natuTed people, a climate in which
the utmost care is required to preserve
health, a country OF great natural
resources, but with low finances, and
scarcity Of money. Go with this
expectation, take your chances in the great
Brazilian lottery, and don't be disappoint-
ed if you fail to draw prize. In my hum
BILE opinion, the same amount of energy,
self denial, greater opportunities, are Of
fered in our own glorious oouRtry. But
there is strange tinge Of romance in hui
man nature, a longing to 60 abroad, de-
pflNlnB ourselves Oh nome cOIuIOflS ana
privileges, as II future made under such
difficulties were more to be priced, When
stood by my window by the sea at Per-
nambueo, and saw an American steamer
vending her silent course toward the
shore, thought that the beautiful stars
and stripes that fiOated over the blue
waters represented the dearest, noblest
land on earth.
think all that is required Of an Ameri-
can to be convinced Ofthis fact is to travel
abroad.