The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-29
ROYAL PALMS OF RIO
A Magnificent Half a Days Ex-
curSiOn in Brazil.
Passing Glimpses OF Brazilian Institutions
The Famous "Jardim Botaaicon and
Other Sights Worth Seeing.


RIo DE JANE1Ro. April 2O.-[Special cor
respondence of THE SUNDAY HERALD. i
The very first day of leisure which a
stranger in Rio can find, should be devoted
to the world renowned botanical gardens,
which lie about seven miles southwest
from che city. The ride thereto, which is
no small part of the pleasure Of the excur-
sion, occupies an hour each way: and the
cost by tramway is 1,S00rels for the round
trip-a great big roll of Brazilian bills, or a
hGt full of the ponderous coins OF the
country, but in reality just 80 cents as we
Americans reckon money. At the crowded
starting point-corner the Ruas do
OGvidor aud Goncalves Dias-emong the
multitude of cars painted in all the colors
Of the rainbow, be sure to take the one
with green dashboard, marked "Jardim'
BotanIco." 1t runs over the oldest tram
way line on the southern continent-built
in 1867 by a company from the United
States and owned and operated by them
until within the last ten years, which con-
meets the capital with several important
suburban districts.
HOW THEY FIX OUT FOR SUNDAY.
Immediately we find ourselves Whirled
into point of interest"-the small square
known as Largo de Carioca, from the res
ervoir on its southern side, which is sup
piled from the Carioca mountains by means
of the old reservoir. Always a scene of
busting activity, this small plaza was once
the most crowded in Rio, because the
whole population were compelled to send
here for water until the present system of
house distribution, and soldiers were con-
stantly on duty to preserve order al the
reservoir. The great building on the west
ern side of the square is the hospital of
the Oldest lay brotherhood in the city, the
Ordem Terceira de San Francisco da Peni-
tencia, or the older branch of Franciscans,
founded in 1922. Only the two upper
floors are used for hospital purposes, and
the Well-kept grounds are adorned with a
profusion of statusry. This brotherhood
owns great deal of valuable property in
and around Rio, which ID largely used for
charitable purposes. Behind the reservoir
paved court leads to amassive irregular
pile of buildings-their old monastery,
which lately passed into the possession of
the state, and is now used as barrack.
for regular troops. Their church is the
most picturesque landmark of the neigh
borhood, GROWING hill back of the res
eryoir and reached by a bread fight of
stone steps terminating in a terrace II
was built about the year 100, and though
falling into decay was once celebrated for
the elegance of its decorations.
GROUP OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Just beyond is an interesting group OF
public buildiDgs-the national printing Of
fee, the splendid theatre de Dom Pedro.
and across the street the Liceu de Artese
Onicios or school of arts and trades. The
latter is the most progressive educational
institution in the city-a mechanics night
school, founded about forty years ago. and
since 1853 sustained by an annual ''subven.
ton" from the government.
1t was designed for the development OF
mechanical and art industries, and in Isl
an annex for females was opened The
teachers give their services and instruc.
tion is gratuitous. Penmanship, mathe-
mates. physics. chemistry, mechanical and
architectural Drawing, and various other
branches are taught, to which music has
been added for the girls.
1t lie really one of the most interesting
and successful schools of its kind to be
found in any country. Now our car turns
into the little Largo da Nae do Bispo-
square of the Bishops Mother',-sc
named because the mother OF the first
native bishop. CASTILLO Bianco, 1774) lived
in a house hereabouts. To the left
of It's central fountain a steep street
leads up TO the Episcopal seminary,
San Sebastian church and ether Interest,"
ing places on Castle hill, and on the right,
facing Evaristo da Viga street, is the Eng.
llsh church, the oldest Protestant sanctu.
airy In all South America II was con.
structed under the provisions of the treaty
of 1870 which stipulated that it should use
no bells and have the outside appearance
of a private house; and standing some dis
tsnce back from the street, surrounded by
high, iron paling, stranger would never
dream that it is church. 1t was com
pleted in 1921, and is now called Christ
church, though originally dedicated to St
George, the patron saint of England, anc
also John the Baptist as a delicate compli
ment tc King John VI, the reigning Porut-
guese sovereign. Time was when q dat,
of one-half per cent. was imposed on al
British merchandise imported into Brazil
two-thirds of which revenue went to tht
British consulate, and the remaining THIRD
was devoted to ''pious and charitable pur
poses?' which included the original cost o.
the church. But for many years il ha:
been totally dependent upon local reve
nues.
AN UGLY NUNNERT.
A little way beyond is one of the larees,
and ugliest structures in Rio, the Aiuds
nunnery, which occupies nearly whole
block. 1t belongs TO ali orler of Francis
can nuns and was founded about twc
centuries and quarter ago. Strangers
generally mistake the moldy old pile for !
penitentiary, and it looks q good deal more
ike place of punishment for the wicked
than the voluntary abode of religions
devotees. Only two of the Ajuda nuns are
now living, and when these aged sisters
die, the property, which is one of the m ost
desirable and valuable in the country. viii
pass into the hands Of the government
The late emperors mother and sister
Maria Leopoldlna and Iona Paulf
Mariana, were buried in the chapel q
this convent, as was also Princess IsabeIl,s
first born. girl. There is only one othe,
nunnery in the city, the Convcnto de SAINTS
Thereza, on the eastern slope Of Santl