The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-12-29
ffMBRrs OF LIFE N BRAZIL.


Decorations are - celmmon that Even
the smsli nsys Wear Thsm.
Among other queer things that tho
stranger observes IN Brazil are the vast
numbers Of docorAtions--stars and crosses,
etc.-which appear 10 have been recklessiy
bestowed often upon boys 81 twelve ana
fourteen years old, who certainly can
have done nothing 70 win such distinc-
tion. There Il very large body Of ex-
officials In Rio, belonging to the decayod
aristocracy, and most Of them still sport
on all possible occasions the court dresses
and uniforms and decorations OF past
regime. I'll their small sons and grand
sons whom one secs trieled out In tawdry
silks and velvets, with stars and crosses
and miniature crowns pinned on their
jackets. These decorations are ~ likely
TO have been obtained BY purchase a. BY
Inheritance, for there used TO be custom
In Brazil under which patents OF nobility,
with all its signs and embiems. could Be
bought for althy lucre and the rage for
them was unbounded.
The highest Of all the decorations was
the insignia OF the Order OF Christ, and
at ono time the keeper of every pniqueria,
~ well as his fellow citizens above and
below In the social gamut, appeared on
every holiday with habtfo de Christie
on his waistcoat front. Church dignitar-
Les and civilians OF high degree wore them
also, and being handed down from gem
Grafton to generation, they still appear,
often with ludicrous inappropriateness
The prevailing costume OF BraKilians In
the rural districts has not changed much
broad brimmed hats with low crowns,
toA nj hn a1.f ID SwfA wfk hon val.
veteen jackets, waistcoats OF gorgeous
colors bedecked with brass or silver but
tons, linen drawers, high, black gaiters
buttoned to the knee; the whole topped
by q sort OF cape, similar TO that still
used in Portugal, generally lined with
scarlet and thrown negligentiy over one
shoulder. This quaint, old-time fashion
prevails only in the interior, principally
among the well-to-do.
In Rio and other seaside ofEiea the gem
tlemen dress in tbs most correct Of Euro
pean costumes and tho ladies get them
selves up more Frenchily, II one may coin
q word, than anybody in France, barring
glaring incongruities In the matter OF
colors, sometimes 30 atrociously blended
rs to "swear at one another In q way
that would drive o French woman crazy.
During the few short trips we have 80 far
made into the interior We have been
amused to see the ladies promenading the
streets with all the airs and graces Of pea
fowls, wearing enormous hoops, with
. pelerines and waterfalls dangling
down their shoulders, exact copies Of the
fashion plates Of thirty years ago.
But this Is q great country for the
study Of anatomy, II one were 30 inclined,
for the majority Of the "common people"
perambulate so near to naked that the
slight similitude of "clothes they wear
seems altogether superfiuous. The street
gamin, and even children Of people In
tolerable circumstances, play about their
doors and screech and tumble In the
streets without stitch or rag OF clothing
upon them, with no moro ideas OF mod
esty, than the NANCY dogs that are their
companions. At the age Of nine or ten,
or whereabouts (Which In the tropics,
you knows . equal 70 hfteon or.
eighteen In the far, cold north), the
girls are partially covered by q cotton
tunic and the boys by equally gauxy
drawers. When fully grown and arrived
at the dignity Of fatherhood and mother
hood themselves which will be surpris-
ingly early In life, You may be sure
their full dress will consist Of, for the
women, cotton chemise, embroidered
around the yoke and armlets, and gener-
ally slipped on one shoulder or the other
to the waist; short, scant cotton skirt,
a string Of beads, long earrings and a.
many bracelets OF brass, silver or beads
as the wearer can manage to acquire; and
for men, a calico shirt, always unbuttoned
in front and worn with flaps outside the
drawers and q straw hat.--Fannie b.
Wards Rio Janerio Letter.