The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-08-15
lTor the Anderson Intelligence'
OUR TRIP 10 PARA.
BY MRS. roMm1E HALL LANDER.

fFor tho Anderson Intelligeneer.
OUR TRIP 10 PARA.
BY MRS. ToMMIE HALL LANDER.
Sunday m orning, June 80, we found our
selves anchored in the harbor Of Para,
about a half mile from the city. The
Amazon does not appear very broad there,
as there is large island in the river.
The agent of our Company (the United
States and Brazil Mail Steamship Company
had travelled with us from the Barbad does
and he kindly invited good many of the
passengers to go ashore on the Company's
tug. The invitation was to start soon
after breakfast, about 8 o'clock. We
thought; but Bfazlians are in 40 hurry; +;
and we really started about 1890. We
landed at very decent pavilion and pro-
ceeded to walk towards the largest Cathe-
dral. Our route lay along one of the prin-
cipal streets We were surprised at the
cleanliness of the street; it was broad
enough, and well.paved, and just as good
as our Charleston streets,
The houses were one or two stories high,
with an occasional three-story building.
They were made of concrete. Some were
plastered On the outside; calsomined, and
colo1ed bright blue, bright green, or a
delicate green, which was the .prettiest !;
others had a layer of fiat polished tiles on
the outside. The tiles were while, with
colored arabesque designs, slightly raised.
At distance, these houses looked as if
they were covered with gay wall. paper.
Some of our gentlemen called them calico
| fronts.
The stores were all open, just as if it
were not Sunday; but we did not see
many customers. There were no window
displays. The doors and windows were
wide open. The goods inside looked quite
natural, except in the shoe stores. Once,
while waiting for car, we entered one.
Slippers like those at home in the museum
are worn by the peasants in the country.
Those for city wear are mostly slippers
with high heels, open at the back, and
with only a small pointed front, in which
to squeeze the toes. There were some high
shoes; but all had high heels and sharp
toes.
We arrived at the Cathedral just at elev-
en-, and expected to have the opportunity
of seeing the service; but the door was
shut fast On inquiring as to what we had
best do, we were advised to go to the, races,
which were just about to begin. We de-
cided to see what we could from the
street cars. They are open cars, like ours,
and are pulled by two small mules, which
keep up constanttrot There is driver,
and conductor. The conductor was kept
busy changing our money, and counting
ua. A dozen of us kept together, and We
were fortunate in having Miss Agnese,
native Brazilian, with US. We paid our
fare of 12O reis pronounced rags apiece.
In few minutes, the conductor came
back for another 12O reis, as We had rid
den beyond certain limit Wepassed from
the business to the residence portion, out
to the country, and back. The houses are
right on the street, and close together.
Upstairs is narrow iron balcony. The
window-shade hangs over this balcony.
The window opens like q door. The hous-
es grew smaller and meaner; and, after
while, we saw the real mud and stick hut
with thatched roof; and generally around
it was a jungle of wild orange, banana,
cocoa nut, bread-fruit, &c. But none of
them showed signs of any care.
We visited a church, and were kindly
admitted by the colored sexton. he took
us through the yestry.room, where we
caught glimpses of the priestly robes OF
lace, satin and silk. The main room was
was well lighted, and had high arched
ceiling, but different from the Gothic. The
main altar was quite gay with artificial
flowers. All around the church were
shrlnes to different saints, and, of course,
a prominent one to the Virgin. A few
plain benches, without backs, down the
middle of the church, were the only accom-
mediation for the congregation. There was
plenty Of SPACE gnoccupied.
From the main room We we're conducted
to a side room which Mortified Us. The
walls were filled with waxen images Of all
parts of the body, with horrible e:uptions,
obtusions, and all sorts of deiormities.
Through our interpreter, we learned that
the sick, say, with sore foot, will get the
priest to pray for his recovery, and will
pronaise to give an image of his diseased
part to the church as memento. sup
pose we must have been at the Church of
All Healing, or Faith Healing. The offer
ings were horrible and yet we had curios-
ity enough to look at them. There were
arms in splints, all parts Of the body with
sores and boils, cancers, faces with small
pox, DC. Some of the offerings we did not
fully understand. There were dozens of
braids or cprls of hair, bows Of ribbon, and
several bridal wreaths. and one veil.
These latter, I suppose, were proof OF an
swers to prayer for husbands. Several
images and models of ships, no doubt,
witnessed escape from 9 storm. These
reminded 1ae of something read in Horace
about the mariner during storm praying
to his saint for delivery, and going home
and hanging something over hi, shrine in
the church.
we turned from this room 10 another,
which was tho most enjoyable thing we
saw. It was representation Of the adora-
ton of the wise men, and followed or agreed
with Ben Hur exactly. In stone cave
lay the infant Saviour. Mary, on her
knees, seems enrsptursd. Joseph stands
behind her, and keeps the ass and cattle in
the background. Just above the infant,
through an opening, we catch a glimpse of
heaven, and see angels singing. One wise
man, the Mongolian, with his golden crown
on the ground is Offering a golden urn.
The Negro stands with silver incense YES
sci, and the Caucasian with q gold vase.
Behind them IRE their camels and alton
dants and away beyond are the shepherds
on the plains, looking at the e,;ghtneas CT
heaven and above all is the silvery star.
The whole takes up space ofabout twelve
by twenty. five feet and the paintings back
aud above make it seem larger. 1t was
sweet and elevating to study it; and we