The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-24
AN EMPEROR'S FOOTPRINTS
The Familiar Haunts ofDom Pedro, Who
for Many Years Wisely Ruled Brazil.
The Palace of San Christavao-Solemn Pool
cries of Court Ceremonisls-How the EN-
press Dressed on State Occasions.
Special Correspondence Of the Sunday Journal.

Special Correspondence OF the Sunday Journal.
Rio DE JANEIRO. March 12.-So short q
time has gone by since royalty lived and
moved and had Its being in Brazil, that
visitors to the capital are still interested
in it's late familiar haunts. and the citizens,
yet loyal at heart to the institutions to
which they and their ancestors were born,
take as much pride in showing them of as
before they began incorporating at repub-
licanism. One may spend a profitable
week in visiting the several homes of the
late Emperor and following the paths he
trod. acceptably to oil men. for more than
half q century. First one should hunt ND
the oldest city palace. built in 1919.
in Praca d. Pedro Segundo. which. up
to the last day of the empire,
served as q sort of overflow house for the
holding of court receptions on unusual gala
on every Corpus Christi day. that they
might enjoy q peep at the crown plate and
jew els. For more than q hundred years the
vice-regents of Rio had no official abiding
place. until. in 1890. the Portuguese King
purchased for that purpose o building in
the Rua Direita, whose site is now occu.
pied by the new exchange. 1t soon became
too small for the increasing dignity of the
colonial governors. and then the palace in
the Praca d. Pedro SeQundO was erected.
There is nothing p~alatial or imposing about
the latter, though 1t is said to have cost O
mint of money-possibly because it's an
cient builders were better m~athamati-
clans than their employers in dis
eA- DV hAa ka1
additions and a~nnexations from time to
time that its original character, If it ever
possessed any. was lost long ago. In 1908,
when King Joao VI arrived with his fam
lily and court (hsving been compelled TO
take refuge in Brazil to escape capture by
the Frenchl. the palace was altogether In
cuff for the shelter of so many per-
sons. So the Carmelite friars on the OPP
posIte side of the street gave up their con-
vent for the use of the King. and IL was
connected with the abode of royalty by q
covered bridge thrown across the thorough
fare. which still remains. Another bridge.
of light iron-work. also covered, span
ming the Seventh of September street.
connects the old convent with the Imper-
ial chapel Still there was not room
enough to meet the extraordinary de-
mands of this royal family and their
numerous ~retinue, and binding after build.
ing was appropriated and annexed, until
the whole nelghborhood became u contipu-
Gus palace" For many years Queen ID.
Maria i. who Is spoken of as q Jezebel. IN
no wise behind her Jewish prototy pc in
temper-made her home in the Carmelite
convent. The suite of rooms on tie third
floor. now occupied by the Institute His
t~orlco-whose library Possesses books of
great value pertaining to brazilian history
is pointed out as having been her private
apartments.
DIVERSIONS OF
Many queer stories are told of these early
scions of Portuguese royalty. For examples:
1t Is said that Miguel. brother of Dom Pedro