New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-22
rgou STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF me TRlDUNEI

Rio has a section OF switzerland 1"ehlE-sA
miles from its steaming streets and polluted mar
bor. The steamer leaves the Prainha wharf
every afternoon during the summer nonths-lor
il is summer here this merry Christmas morn
ipg-cro,ydcd with statesmen. politicians and busi-
ness men whose homes are al PeropoHs. 1cN'er-
dav afternoon the Minister Of Justice, Senior
Campos Sales fresh from a Cabinet meetlns al
which a decree Of restricted martial law had
been proclaimed for Brazil, was one of the pas
senrers-his strong, thoughtful and benevolent
face showing no signs Of the political anAlcues
of this revolutionary epoch. There is a half
hour Of inexplicablc Misrepresentation IN
this deliberate country is regarded, not as the
thief but as the custodian of time-and the
steamer is heading toward the majestic Organ
Mountains The old Benedictine monastery looms
I'D on the right, with the shpyards of the Ma
rine Hospital below it. while on the left are the
main coffee storchouscs of Rio with a dry-docK
close at hand. which is one of the most curious
things 10 be seen in the city It is huge nasih
cbiselled and followed out Of the solid rock py
convict labor-a public work wrought by Egyptian
methods in this modern age. The city, lying
encamped with its mountain sentinelS posted from
the waters edge at Castillo and Gloria TO the
outermost suburbs. is now slowly receding from
view The waters Of the upper bay. studded WIN
islands some of which are in high state oil cuI-
tivation. open vstas Of enchanting loneliness. IL
is an hours sail of unrivaled attractNeheSS.
The Sierra dos OrgaoS. with massive rampar's
and cloud-girt SUBMITS. are still ten miles away
when the steamer approaches the LANDING \
comical train of small open cars is waiting 10
carry passengers TO the base of the mountain over
the Oldest railway in Brazil. completed in 1874.
II is a dull and noisy ride through low and
swampy lands until the foot Of the sorra Is
reached Then everything Is changed.
For the next four miles there are prccipitou5
grades and magnificent mountain scenery. chang
ing every moment. The train is separated into
sections. operated on the RIggcnbach system. In
the course of half an hour an altitude OF 2,Noo
feet above sea level IS reached. This section OF
The railway is new, having been completed Only
reven wears 1t is a remarkably good engineer
ing work and bctOkcnS what Brazil can do when
IL sets 10 work in earnest to overcome mechanical
difficulties of the most serious nature. Near the
top there is viaduct about 200 feet loncwith four
spans. which is singularly bold engineering con-
ception. The traveller has to do, not with the me-
chanical obstacles but with the picturesque seen
try. These are the Brazilian Alps with cloud-capped
peazs. abyssmal chasms. wde-rcaching prospects Of
Rio and the BAY end quick-ilashing glimpSeS OF
foaming brooks and the old carriage road.pow Writ
uallv abandoned. II is a journey Of unceasins
variety and delight The scenic transformations
of the mountains surpasS even the wonderful
panoramic effects Of the harbor. Nature, gracious
almoner of the picturesque in the scenery Of the
bay environed with granite hills, increases and
multiplies her bounty with reckless prodlgallty
In these glorious mountains.
Petropois lies in a valley Of the Sierra da Is
trella. among the Organ Mountains. i is 200
feet above the sea and revels in an invigoretine
climate Yellow Jack has never Haunted his fiag
here. II is a secure refuge even when pestilenco
is raging twenty-siX miles away in panic
stricken city As summer residence II is I'M
rivaued in Brazil. il has several hotels. thor
ouQhly comfortable, if not modern IN equipment
and private residences. wellkcpt lawns. luNurlant
gardens delightful drives and scenic attractions
unsurpassed in this part Of the world circuit
of peaks encompasses the valley, some OF "hch
ran no easily scaled BIZ roadway or path In one
of the gorges is Cascatinha, lovely mountain
cascade as picturesque at high water as any
waterfall 70 he found in our New-llampshir'
White Hills Through another winds tho old
,urnpilc 10 an outlying town in Mlnas Geraes.
TIE valley is traversed by brooks, spanned by
iron bridges AT every turn Of the well-kept roads
The shops and residences are iTeCuarlY grouped
and beautiful gardens ard romantic handsome
effects complete a picture Of exceeding lowell
ness. There is normal population Of $4,000 IN
this valley of delight, but il is materially ~
creased during the summer months There are
5000 Germans here, mainly descendants Of tho
colony planted on the imperial estates nearly
fftv wears ago. Evidences of their thrift. order
illness and neatness abound on every side.
Petropolis is the city OF the Pedroes, under
whose patronage it has grown and been steadiN
jmproved and embellished. Dom Pedro ! wa
attracted by his first glimpse Of the valley in ls22
and bought large tract. which remained nm
occuped and undcveoped until lS43. Then ~
German colony was brought in, ard Dom PEDRO
began to take an active interest in the estate
The imperial palace was built, the first section o
The railway was constructed, good mountain roa'
was opened, parks We're laid out, ana Fe'ropoh
AZ if now is was created. All the associations 0
the town centre around the Imperial family, VIII
loved the place and were not content to live any
,vLore else. Nv first stroll naturally led 10 th
palace. in the centre of spacious park. Ih
rates were omen. and a winding road frinccd Wit
parterres Of roses and exotic plants and shaded b.
noble trees brought me 10 tie main entrance.
is a large square house with two rectangulo
winrs-gray with touches Of yellow. The archI
lecture is simple in its lines, and the Ornamcnta
ton of the uuietest order. II IS a hOmcly palace
with an air Of frugal comfort and an utter ahsenc
of ostentation In it the Emperor lived like
retired country gentleman chcrishing his flower
and tees and with pedantry that was character
istic of him, translating Spanish books int
Portuguese, and eXhaustng in achievements @
petty scholarship energies which ought 10 hav
been employed in working out the poliuca
problems Of Brazil. 1t always an unsOcl;
house. The Emperor never entertained cithI
Ministers OF friends A representative of
foreign court or Government was admitted 10
brief formal audience, and was then CURLY b0we
out, never TO he invited again. There were ncithC
court rcvcE stately banquets in those gloom
and ill-furnished halls The Emperor cared fC
none Of these thngs--indced, was bored by then
lie and his family lived there with extreme pail
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