Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-14
THE CUSTOMS OF SOCIETY.
Pretty SenoritaS Who Can Talk En-.
glish and Flirt Like Mad.
SOCIAL RECIPROCITY ADVOCATED.
4 ShiplOad of Wine Free to the Guests and
No Drunkenness.
BLOOD DOESN'T COUNT ON THE EQUATOR
rcoRREsPoNDENCE OF THE DISPATCH ]

j
PARA, BRAZIL, Dec. 14-The present
inhabitants of the Amazon Valley are mostly
of Portuguese, African and aboriginal Indian
descent, both ofpure blood and with wide
spread and indiscriminate mixture of the
three races. There is no color line in Brazil.
There is none Of the prejudice against color
here that exists in parts of the United
States. The cnly aristocracy that exists
may, perhaps, be called political and
| monied. 1t is in no sense "blooded," al
though there is an. inclination to magnify
| what blood can be traced back as far asstwo
generations. Some of the "bluest" point
with pride to the "Pocahontas'' grand
| mothers, whose oil portraits adorn the parlor
| walls OF some of the most estimable families
here, and of whom, if the pictures are cor
rect, they may we'll be proud.
One striking characteristic, not only of
| the portraits, but also of the descendants, is
the frequent almost perfect symmetry and
regularity of the features, accompanied BY a
dignifed and genial composure.
| REAL LIVE BARoNs.
The Provisional Government OF Brazil de-
creed that those of its eminent citizens upon
whom the Emperor, Dom Pedro IL, had
conferred titles should continue to enjoy, in
an honorary way, those distinctions under
the rew republic, the titles. however, dying
with the bearer.
So there are several barons resident in
| Para.
Probably the foremost in this line is the
Baron de Marajo. The title, pronounced
"mah-rah-zhaw,' after the island at the
mouth of the Amazon, which is in itself
larger than the kingdom of Portugal, was
not purchased according to the custom, but
| was conferred many years ago by the EN-
peror for distinguished services. The Baron
de Marsjo may be said to be the foremost of
the list of mobiles here. He is, at least phys
| ically, head and shoulders above them all, as
he measures about feet 4 inches in height.
The Baron is not only large man physically,
| but large in heart, with eerrespondiDglyl lib
eral and advanced ideas for Brazilian.
A CoNIPANIoNABLE DON oUIxoTE.
Though apparently quite dignifed,
11inding one by his striking personal
| pearance of Don QuIxote, as he sauni
| along the street, he is socially one of
boys, though quite exclusive in his
| paulO0Sulp. 1ue DdTOQ Is GepQDI
| and Chairman of the committee on the
bration of the Republics first annive
| He was at one time President of this
ince, and is now Mayor OF the city
| parents were Portuguese, but as
born Brazilian none is more patriotl
| he in the declaration of the popularr
| confession of faith, Brazil for Brazl.lans
and Para for the Paraenses"
He was educated In Europe, and is by
profession a civil engineer, some of his
| earlier work here being the laying of the
| foundations OF the Provincial palace. That
which will remain as one Of the most grace
ful monuments to his taste and forethought,
however, was the planting on each side of
San Jose avenue, about 80 year, ago, long
| line of beautiful palms. which are now the
| admiration OF all the visitors of this truly
| tropical city. The noble Baron is not only
one of the interesting characters of this in
| teresting place, but be is also the father of
| a most interesting family, majority of
whom are daughters. ''All are accom-
| plished, but one is beautiful" One of the
| daughters is living in New York City. the
wife OF one of our prominent merchants.
FIRST FAMILIES. OF BRAZIL.
This family were educated in Lisbon, and
as the Baron was recently one of the Com
missioners to the Paris Exposition, his
daughters have all had the further adj
vantage of European travel, and are there
fore quite as highly accomplished as may
be found in any city, and may De classed as
the ''F. f. BIS"
I have always had a weak fancy for
brunettes, and on the occasion of my first
visit to the grand opera here, 1 was de-
lighted to find that every single lady in the
vast audience was brunette. They were of
| all shades, from the rich yellow pine, to the
dark West India mahogany. In this vast
sea of pretty faces and gay toilets, of the
many dark eyed beauties, my eyes finally
rested on one strikingly pleasant young
face, rather lighter than the rest, from
which beamed a most expressive pair of
dark brown eyes. She was elegantly att
tired in white, full corsage, laced in the
back, encasing long and slender waist;
upon her hands she wore a pair of white kid
gloves, the many buttons of which covered
q well formed arm. Upon inquiry ascer-
tanned that the apparition in white dress
and brown hair was the daughter of the
Baron; and my informant added: "She il
one of the incest girls in Para too, and
speaks English very we'll"
A VERY POPULAR BEAUTY.
As I had not heard the voice even of an
English or American lady since I left
America, was, of course, hungering and
thirsting for a few pleasant words. But
realized that it was, of course, out of the
question for a stranger, in land where the
customs are so exaetlng, to hope to talk In
his native tongue, with the pretty daughter
of a real, live Baron. could only attend
the opera every night thereafter, and have
the pleasure of admiring her at a distance.
There was nothing in the manner of the
young lady that suggested any attempt at
hauteur, or exclusiveness; in fact, Noticed
that she was very pleasant with those she
met, and she was certainly popular, as her
acquaintances were quite numerous and
gushing.
One day I happened to be on the same
street car with her. She had a pleasant
word and smile for almost everyone, but
myself; and when ready to leave, the car
stopped long enough for the popular lady
to give her hand to those that remained, a.
if they we're off on a long journey. The
Portuguese driver smiled good-naturedly al
the delay.
BARoN'S RIVER PARTY.
Another Brazilian noble whom have had
the pleasure of meeting is the Baron de
Ibiapaba, wealthy, as we'll as most genial
old gentlemen, resident of one of the lower
provinces, who recently visited Para ID the
interest of this branch of a system Of banks
in which he is concerned. His Para insti-
tuition il being managed BY q nephew, Mr..
Cunda, most accomplished young gentle-
man, who might be quite an easy catch fos