Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-12
complete the frescoing, which, in my hum
bic Judgment, is marvelously beautiful.
or,,reT OK THE CONTIN ENT

is o curlouS-looklDg, plaSteI-cofeTeu pTlch
chanel in Para, close by the Cathedral,
called ST. Johns Church, the date o. whose
construction is not quite certain, but which
is said to be the oldest church building in
all South America, there being only one
other, and that in Peru, that contests with
it for that honor,
Another of the older churches once the
property of the expelled Jesuits, confscated
hy the MARQUEE de Pombal in the old Portu-
cuese colonial times, has been closed for
many years, the remainder OF the immense
edifice which served as monastery, now
serving as Custom House. The bells In Its
massive tower are SILENT and over the wlGe
eorniees shrubbery has grown to the height
of three feet, probably from seed earned up
by the winds, and from the deposits OF the
numerous vultures or urubus, as the ma
lives call them, which daily and nightly
roost upon the roof. The church faces my
lodging, from the other side of the plaza,
and every night can be distinctly heard the
voices of the owls that inhabit Its weather
stained belfry tower.
UNDERGROUND PASSAGES.
There is a legend often told, and firmly
believed bv the less educated classes OF tne
citv, that there are many subterranean pas
saCes leading from the old monastery (noW
Custom House) to different parts OF the
CITY. and that by these secret passages the
old monks used to visit the larger and
smaller seminaries, and especially the
Convent of ST. Anthony.
The Catholic Church has an educated and
cultivated ministry, even IN those countries
where their religion predominates and to
whom we send missionaries. They always
have good and appropriate music
and tasteful houses of worship.
Last Sunday evening 1 was surprised to
find full-fedged brass band sitting on
benches alongside of the open church door,
PLAYING for dear life in the noisy manner
that only a native at the end OF brass horn
can emulate l learned, upon inquiry OF
prominent Catholic, that the band played
for the entertainment of the people, empha-
sizing the statement that it was outside the
church, and only before and after services
FIREWORKS AT CHURCH.
During the beautiful ceremonials incident
10 the vesper service of the church here,
numerous rockets are fired at signals from
the altar from the little plaza in front OF
the church. They go up into the darkness
of a tropical night with whirl and explode,
scattering prettilv colcred stars. A Protest
ant ntleman insisted upon 1t that these
are PRAYERS being fired up to heaven, but
am told that II is done TO express joy and
glor1fcation, this method being the most
impressive ceremonial to the more ignorant
worshipers. This is not a Sunday school
library story, but TACT
Among the many curious customs OF the
people in this tropical city, are some which
we mi ght appropriately adopt in our own
climate; Tor instance, there can be no such
thing as watered milk in Para. The milk
wagons come around almost nolselessly
every morning on ali fours.
MILK COMES FRESH.
Droves of milch COWS, linked or yoked
together IN sections of three or four, with
their muzzled calves following them; in
some instances, really tied to the cows tail,
are driven to the customers door, and the
gill or pint of milk is drawn from the cows
teats into YOUR own glass. There are no
four-wheel wagons in Para, except two old
rickety drays. Everything else, except
street cars and hacks, goes on two wheels,
drawn BY little Spanish mules or ponies.
The drivers walk and lead by a long rope.
They never ride. and 1 suppose the mule
could not be driven.
The streets are nearly all paved with stone
blocks, that are imported. I should think 1t
a good field for concrete pavement; especl-
ally the blocks, which | imagine would be
supplied much cheaper than the stone. Con-
crete should be well adapted to the climate,
as there are no irosts, though perhaps the
intense heat would soften the material. The
sldewalks are nicely paved with stone slabs,
imported from Portugal.
ATTENTION TO CLEANLINESS.
There is a system Of sewerage in Para that
serves to keep the city clean. In addition
to this, the authorities rigidly enforce the
collection of all garbage. The houses and
shops deposit the sweepings at night, which
is collected by the carts employed for the
purpose. From these it is taken by street
cars made for the purpose and running on
the ordinary tracks. The streets are swept
clean BY hand every nighi. and the sweep.
iugs removed in the same cars.
Besides this daily gathering up of refuse
matter we have at this season the frequent
heavy showers that wash the streets and
flush the sewers. The ungainly-looking
buzzards are also protected, because theil
sharp ewes detect and pounce upon decaYing
matter that would otherwise be missed.
There is telephone system that embraces
800 exchanges. 1t seems very funny TO heal
the fast-taIking Portuguese at the box anc
watch the impatient grimaces when the
thing does not go exactly to suit them.
OUR PETROLEUM POPULAR.
An effort was made to introduce electric
lighting but for some reason it failed
There are three sickly jets in the plaza
that excite the wonder and admiration o
the crowds that gather in that little park il
the evening. The gas furnished by the En-
gIisn company is OF a most inferior quality
aud exceedingly expensive, necessarily S,
because the coal has to be brought from En-
gland. The petroleum light OF the United
States is preferred to the gas.
Though this is the richest of soils, AM
most favored as regards heat and humidity
yet practically, everything required her
has to be imported and pay heavy Gu stor
House duties. The principal products 70
export are india rubber, nuts and hides
which are indigenous, and are gathered b.
the natives and after several landings b.
the merchants, are exported. Nothing
manufactured here. The Brazilian Gov
ernment exacts also heavy export duty OIL
this crude material.
It costs me FOR nv living at a second rat
hotel, from six to eight milreis per day
which is equivalent TO about 81 and not S
good fare as [ should get in a boardin:
house in Washington for dollar a day
There are no such things as boarding house
In Para, and none of the families admit out
siders in their homes as boarders.
Immediately opposite my window is on
of the numerous drugstores that seem TO d
the principal business of Para. On tn
sign Of the Pharmacia Imperial, which cor
fronts me like daily warning, are thes
words: "Anti-Epidemico. Preservatiy
das Epidemias Febrc Amsrells, Choler;
Bexigas, Influenza, Beri-Beri, Dysenterii
Typhos, &c"
NOT DESIRABLE OFFICE.