The Indianapolis journal., 1892-05-01
DOM PEDRO'S SUMNER HOME
A Trip to Petropolis, Delightful Spot
in the Vicinity of Rio de JaneirO,
Where Dom Pedro and His Court Spent the
Heated Season "A Charming Resort Set
Down In the Midst of Magnificent Scenery.

body knows, the names of the late Emperor
and Empress of Brazil. translated into
plain English, were Peter and Theresa; and
SO 1t came about that their once devoted
subjects called the two rrettlest towns in
the country Petropols and TheresoDoliS
Early as the year 1922. the site Of the first
named town was chosen by old Dom Pedro
as q summer residence for the imperial
family; but. although he bought an enor-
nous estate there at the time. the first
actual visit of royalty TO tho place did not
occur until quarter of q century later.
Petropolis lies just beyond the summit OK
the Sierra dos Orgoas ("Orgsn mountaius9,
whose dark peaks. ascending In regular
scale. like the pipes of an organ. are sharply
outlined against the din, blue horizon 10
the north of Rio. Being in the upland
region of cloudy days aud cool
nights. where yellow fever never
comes nor the almost as much dreaded
pest of mosqultoes-it has become the
summer paradise of all those Rio Janeiro-
ans whose worldly circumstances permit
them to flee from the heat, dust and vile
smells of the annually plague-strioken
city. Thither the imperial household used
the Preside nts aud their families will do
while Brazil calls herself reDublic-im-
mediately followed by all the enyoys ex-
traordl nary and ministers plenlpotentlarE-
Thus fashion, as we'll as health. depends
upon staying away from Rio during a cer-
tain season. and summer court at Pc tropo-
lis Is quite as gay and imposing ns that OK
the winter at the capital During abouS
seven months of every year the place -
crowded to overfiowlng. Government OF
oft ha o.
fessional men. merchants. clerks, teachers
everybody who can possibly scare up
mllreIs enough. sends his wife and daugh-
ters up the heights to hang on somehow TO
the edges of fashionable life, If not per-
mitted to disport themselves In the midst
of 1.-The SWIM" though he, the bread wi n
ner, must continue 10 moil and toll IN
town, travelling to and fro mornings and
evenings.
SPOILED BY RAILWAY.
Since the completion. nine years ago. of
the railroad with the queer name
"Princepo do Grao Paror-an excursion
from Rio to Petropolis and back has be<
come one of the possibilities of O single
day. IT the tourist has no more time To-
spare, that is better than not to visit the
lovelIest spot In Brazil at all-spendinG
FIVE hours on the road and seven in
opolis-though seven weeks would
hardly do the subject justice or exhaust itE
especial points of interest. Railroads ara
no doubt necessary adjuucts TO civilizs-
tion; but they are death TO picturesque
ness, and have spoiled many q famous
trip-as. for example. that into the Yosem-
ite valley. which was worth making,
when one had to 20 on a mule. at the peril
of his life, rather than. as now, In parlor
car. The old stage road leading up 10 this
Land of the Sky" was incompa rably
beautiful. and the coach ride over it 80 fulE
of delightful experiences that one cannot
help regrettins it has become n thing Of
royalty is made so easily aooessi-t
BILE. The turnpike was built about
the time of the Maua-Ruiz railway. which
is said to be the oldest in South America.
especially coffee, from the interior. lt
runs ia miles, from the tropical jungles
near Rio, mp over the Organ mountains.
tacking along the faces of steep cliffs likea
ship at sea, away to the celebrated mines
of Minas Geras. to Entire Rios. aud TO the
frontier towns OF the province. Being
free from dust in times OF drought and mud
in the rainy season, with terraces above
and safety walls below. the old stone high
way has rarely been equaled since tho
days of the Roman road-makers. But 10
became q very Via Dolorosa TO its stock
holders when the Dom Pedro SeeundO rail-
way was completed, about fifteen years
afterward. for the latter took away all the
coffee traffic. Ii 10 now owned by tho
Company Uniao @ IDduetria l"U nion and
IndustryD, and coaches still run over O.
portion of il. Near Petropolis there are
places OH this maRnifcent thoroughfare
where the traveller. looking over the para
pet. sees far below him several parallel,
stone paved roads. and finds lt difficult TO
believe that they arc all one road, the
same by which he has been zig-zsgging up
the mountain side.
Suppose you are in Rio and want TO 20 to
Petropolis. Take bond" or tram-car,
anywhere on the First-o March street
one of those marked "Praes Municipal"
Prainba boot-landing. Ii frequently hap
pens In the crowded business streets, par
ticularly in the vicinity of the Coffee Ex-
change, that the cars are blocked for a long
time. In this case, embering that tides
and steamers wait for no man. it would be
safer to jump out and walk-thoueh the
way Is long, the weather bot, and you feel
constrained TO hold your nose Mt the sight
of numerous funeral professions and the
smell of ffever-breedlng ess-poOls-tIrough
the Rua Quitsnda 10 the Rua Prainha and
thence to the wharf. The regular daily
boat leaves this landing only at o'clock
IN the afternoon. but on Sundays and all
holidays (which means about nine-tenths
of the timel there is also boat at z A. NJ.
BUILT BY THE DEsEpICTINKs.
The side on the bay 10 scarcely less inter
esting than that up the Sierra. First there
is the old BenedictiEo monastery. on San
Bento hill, founded by Friars Ferraz and
Joao Porcalho. in 1910. Its commanding
site has more than once been occupied
for military purposes. and In I'LL. having
been fortified TO resist the Duguay-TrouIn
invasion, 1t was nearly demolished by
boribardment. There Is said TO be some
xOnderful carving in its old chapel,
wrought by BenedIctine Monks In Portu-
gal The order Is rich, possessing good
deal of property In the city and several
outside estates. from which the annual in
come 10 very large; but it will soon revert
to the state, for there are few of the old
frisrs remaining. The BeneGictines have al
ways enjoyed q high reputation for learn
ing and charitable works. For half a
century they have maintained an excellent
free school Before the war for independ-
ence they possessed valuable library,
during that popular agitatIon-when lib
erty meant license and independence
freedom to rob-the books were mostly de-
stroyed. just below san Behto hill, on
the right hand side. are the busy ship
yards OF the marine arsenal, and on the
left, the long line of enormous stone houses
belonging 10 the Dom Pedro III docks.
These are among the most important of
the city's public works. The quays have an
extension of nearly three hundred yards.
and their covered piers are 100 yards long.
The company that owns the big store
houses enjoys a monopoly IN the matter of
Shipping coffee. though but a small portion
of it is done directly from pier to vessel.
Bey ond these Queys Is an enormous dry
dock. cut out OF solid rock. The first ISL