The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-01
PEDRO'S FOOTPRINTS
Familiar Haunts of Dom Pedro
De Alcantara.
PALACE OF SAN CHRIsTAvAo
Stolen FoolerieB Of Court CeremonIals-How
the Empress Dressed on State
Occasions.

q D.
So short $ time has Eun6 by since royalty
lived and moved and had its being in Brazil,
that visitors to the capitsl are still inter
estsd In its late familiar haunte, and the
cltizens-yet loyal st heart TO the institp-
lions 10 which they and their ancestors
were boru-thke as much pride in showing
them of SIS before they began masquersd-
ing st Rapubiicanism.
One nay spend profitable week in visit
ms the aeversl homes of the late Emperor
and following the paths he trod, ecceptably
10 oil men. for more than helf century
First one ehould hunt the oldest city
palace Quilt in 17z5) IN Praca D. Pedro
Segupdo; which, up to the last day Of the
empire, served as a sort Of overflow house
for the holding CT court receptions or IN
usual gnla days. and was thrown open TO
the populace on every Corpus Christi day,
that they might enjoy 8 peep at the crown
plate and jewels. For more than hundred
years the yics-regents of Rio had no Official
abiding place, until in 1890, tho Portuguese
king purchased for that purpose building
in the Rua Direita, whose site is now occu-
pied by tbs new exchange. 1t soon became
too small for the increasing dignity of the
colonial governors; and then the palace in
Praca d. Pedro Segundo was erected.
There is nothing palatisl or imposing abodt
the latter, though it lie said to have cost @
mint Of money-possibly because its an
Gent builders wers bstter mathematicians
than their employers in distant Portugal.
1t has had 80 many additions aud annexa-
tions from time TO time, that its
ORIGINAL CHARACTER,
il it ever possessed any, was lost long ago.
In 1903, when King Joao VI. arrived with
hia family and court, (having been COM
PEELED to take refuge IN Brazil TO escape
capture by the Fronch), the palace was al
together insufficient Tor the shelter of SO
many persons. So the Csrmelite t'rars on
the opposite side Of tbs street gave up their
convent for the uss Of the king, and it 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, spanning the Seventh OF Septem-
Der street, connects the old convent with the
imperial chapel. Still there was not room
enough TO meet the extraordinary demands
of this royal family and their numerous ret
inue, and building after building was ap.
propriated and annexed, until the whole
neighboEhood became continuous pal
ace" For many years Queen D. Maria l.
who is spoken Of as a Jezehel, in no wise
behind her jewish prototype il temper
made her home in the Carmelite convent
The suite Of rocms or the third floor, now
occupied By the Institute Eistorico-whose
library possesses books Of great value per-
tanning to Brizilisn history is pointed out
as having been her private apartments.
Many queer stories are told OF taSse early
scious Of Portuguese royalty. For example:
1t is said that Miguel, brother OF Dom
Pedro first and uncle Of the late Emperor,
used TO divert himself and his profligate
associates by selling a sucking pig from
come poor woman's stall IN the public mar.
ket throwing it aloft aud receiving ii
neatly upon the point of his sword; while
Bli the mothers whereabouts hastily hide
their babies under their pettcoats, expect
ing them TO be served in the same manner.
Sometimes the sport was varied by the
dainty noblemen throwing the squealine
victims, that his bighness might catch
them upon his " espon with less exertion
" wae IN the days Of King Joao VI thai
wealthy merchant OF Rio, named Elias
Antonio l1opes,
PRESENTED TO THE SOVEREIGN
his own residence, situated in the beautiful
suburbs Of Sao Christ6vao, which in that
day was considered the finest private
house in South America. Whether the
princeiy gifi was voluntary contribution
or not, ! sm unable TO say. Old King JohL
bad often visited The place in course OF bis
country drives and nad conceived & grea
fancy fer it; and there have been othel
snoiute5 heads whose fancies it wss no
wise 10 oppose by any considerations o.
meum Il 1Ett;n- Its happy recipient dubbed
the estate Real QGintd da Boa Vista. 1.-The
Royal Garden of Beautiful View but i
continued 10 be quite as often called by tht
old name Of Praca do Son ChriStavao. L
is certainly well situated for an imperia
residence, occupying commanding site
overlooking the city. in one OF its most pic
TuresQue suburbs The edifce Las been 81
many tipaos enlarged since the generous
I,o0eE, oay the result IS & queer sbEence O.
arcni5ectural hsrnony-its most proninen
feature being the lefB wing, q Eqlars gtruc
tu-e three stories high, while the othe
wing has tWn ssCriea. Y ct as g whole it il
cherning, ite white walls in bold rel.e
sRalnst the dRrk greco mountains Of Tijuca
In the midst OF extensive grounds Of mucl
natural beauty, LAID outir winding avenues
stretches OF emerald lawn, artificial lakes
thiCkebr Of ornamental shrubs, with fonn
tain and statues al frequent intervals, al
shaded by the most splendid trees OF tn
tropics.
10 reach Boa Vista palace. take car
risQs as your hotel door and drive dow
the Rua Cettele, skirt the bay along tn
Praya ia Gloria, rattle through the Ga
EdaagUerras, (ssrset OF leather pipes), dgsl
under the acQueduct arches CT hste
Csvslcis. (hcrse killing avenue); cprn int
the Rue 5As Invalidss (slreeS OF sick pea
ple), End then follow the nata porcag
(pig killing street,, until at last you CON
70 the GiTect roEd thst leads out to So
Cbristavso. The well paved avenue bs
LAMP posls set OF either sioe, End II Ia line
with
HANDSOME SUBURBAN HOMES
set In gardens Of perpetual bloom, SHADE
bv feathery Palm lrses. That huge whit
building on the left, its glittering wEus so
cupola crowring an eminence overlookin
the bar. is one Of the few institutious o
Rio which we Ehall not visit. 1t is To
famous LaEerrs5o-"Inperiai Hospital do
IszoFas''-founded by the Jesuits NOR
than G century ago, and still cared for b
the brotherhood SRatissilnk Sacramento G
Cendelaria 1t is said TO be crcwced al
the year around with lepers in all stages 0
tns luhsEsome disease. and good Brezlisp
nBasF loOk at its white walls without cross
ing themselves and uttering prayers 10
TIE he less wrstches.
You pass groups OF mules, with SKI
covered penniers containing frnit, vege1a
hes, poultry and charcoal, on their way {
market; ssvenderas (wasG-s7U1nep) CLAD /
.stha livery Of the sun" (tlsck htde) ar
not much else, balancing huge baskets o
clothes On their heads; iauuUy nesresses
fat and peiewlle6; and carriages OF 1f
wealthy with ccach-rnen aod foClmsn i
gorgeous liveriGs--aG go precisely like othe
suburban streets that YOU are not awEr
OF 5siug within imperial grounds TIL sud
denly the great palace looms up before yor
But il lR not 90 near at hand as il lookt
fer the drives are winding and circuitous
pace for full half hoar-during ID
greater r7uTtion Of which time the bnildin