The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-06-16

lF \ STRANGE DISEASE. THE BRAZlL-
lAN ADAM.
special correspondence of The Journal
RIO DE JANEIKo, April 3Oth. \ Sister
, harity died the other day in the great
ViSercordia Hospital of this city, whose
.rle name, if given here, would be recog-
s7,d by many of my readers. and whose
5et life, (she was barely thirty) was
malkable blending of romance and trag
.lv But since she kept her secret so
ucl desiring nothing kinder of Fate
ian that her former identity should be
, iuder the cap and gown of a Sister of
'-gc,. which She had worn through seven
IT,, years. am not at liberty to tell You
tli ot her story. only this: Ten years
,hc was the petted darling of one of
most aristocratic families in Philadel-
The daughter of wealthy parents,
.nu vet reside in that city beautiful,
npliShcd. gay and charming. Like
y anothel9, her bright, Young life
wrecked 10y heavcn's choicest blcs-
perverted to curse, She loved,
wisely, but too Well, and chung to
fleet OF hrr choice despite the pro
hol friends,
dream was short. She awole to
s1>elf the victim OF a pretended
a4e. her supposed husband Il biga-
lnd for@cr. who is nuW serving
C.lae in prison. Overwhelmed with
.aa and >orrow, She renowned the
and sought refuge in the >helteling
.9s IT the church. As Il Sister OF Char
Fl she was sent to Brazil during the fever
e.nic OF seven years ago, and remain
aril the day OF her death an humble
in the hospital OF Rio.
-.cg one, WHO has visited the 'Santa
,5 ia MiSercordia in recent years,
have noticed this quiet but Jealous
..U- sister, whose lovely face and figure
.r. Ae ugly habit of the order could not
~ se. because She was SO different
..n rht rest of the Sisterhood. being the
ne among them Of purely Anglo
SOFA blood Struck by her appearance
FIRST time came to the place as a
,-seer. addressed her in Englsh
d course OF time It friendship result
IFS lose as the restrictions of the stern
Fan would allow between a nun and Il
crer from the far away world. which
..td long since renounced- closer. per-
is, because the kindly Mother Superior
IL, aware that death had marked the
s,tyl ion his own. During the hours
tt at the bedside of the dying Girl,
lHcl to appreciate 10 the fullest extent
.lQly lives Of self-abnegation led by
-entle SiSteIhood in al parts of the
bi where suffering and sorrow exists
al a~o to understand something Of the
Nfucont work of Rio great hospital,
}r would NOT like to he clasSed with
Imaginative servant, who was diScoN-
Tying aloud IN the kitchen, and was
LILY induced to explain The cause Of her
that the thought occurred to her
She looked into The oven. what if
should get married some day, and
lh have dea little baby, and it
Q crawl into the oven and he baked
o,ih: but | do want to impress upon
it, should You ever come to Rio dc
u.r' and happen to fall i'll here, Is
foreigners do, your very WiseSt
a-r would he to get yourself conveyed
tl possible speed to the Santa Casa
II N~ericordia. Few cities in the world
II ,utor provided with houses of refuge
II six people than Rio-and none need
II more. Wealthy Blazilians do then
swing almost exclusively through
Il arlous Irmandades, (Brothelhoods).
n 7hose charge are all the hospitals and
II ans. The mandates are not unlike
II benevolent societies of the United
u e> except that these are on as much
Il -or scale as the climate is more UNI
4 Hin than that of the north. They are
II HalY composed OF laymcn. and arc
n 4"WN us Third Orders as. for eX-
aIe the Ordem Tcrceira da Misericor-
II ''rdem Terceira Do Bonn Jesus, Or
II Ierccira da Boa Mortc. etc
II Hire Brothers wear a peculiar style o
approaching the clerical, those o.
II H association having some distinguish
mark. 70 become Il member of on,
t4e,e orders a liberal entrance fee i.
Ill "UINd, and afterwards an annual sub
II nptlpn the members being entitled tt
II g"ft i'll sickness OF health from The
4 mrll fund, and a funeral or ceremon,
eu dead. And the lrmandades, in re
iUf numerous lcgacies received con
We to the erection and support o
"A A'heS provide for the sick. bury tn,
n h ANA support masses foI the repos,
III souls. Many of these orders have be
4e enormously rich in the lapse o
n AS. through donations md legacies
membership in them is eagerl,
n -ht
Het among the Brothcrhoods is that o
Mlscrcordia, in whose hands hav
I'laccd the principl charitable office
n a0e city, and which has received s.
"A valuable bequcsts us to be able t,
aN 'ilNe large sums in aims and to main
IN Ni s"nlc Of the best hospitals and asy