Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-30

From our starting point to the Maua landing
pier the distance is only twelve miles and we
make it in an hour. Then we enter a train Of
short. old-fashioned cars and steam, bump,
jolt away over ten miles of swampy coun-
try, brilliant with many-hued orchids and the
fame-colorsd leaves OF the Flower of Lent
tree, to the foot of the Sierra. This famous but
most uncomfortable railway was built about
forty years ago under a concession to the Wis.,
conde de Maua, hence Its name, and in 1888 it
was sold to the Princepo do Grao Para
Company.
STEEP ASCENT IN SECTIONS.
At a point called Riaz da Sierra. the present
site o; the government powder mills, the train
is broken up into sections for the ascent 1t
Is operated by the Rigginbach system for four
or five miles over the steepss. grade The al
stude attained is about three thousand feet.
and although SO ancient and uncomfortable
the road is really q creditable piece of engI-
neering. Ii follows the outline of the valley
and the old macadamized road, and near the
summit is viaduct seventy-eight feet high and
1871 feet long, which makes ones hair stand on
end to cross. At all times Of the year the
views from the car windows are enchanting.
Looking far below one can see the steel rails
by which he has assembled crawling up the
heights like serpent. and spread out like a
map Is Rio de Janeiro, twenty five miles away,
the incompatible bay. the low country between
one tangled mass of flowers and verdure, the
familiar peaks OF Tijuca, Coreovado and the
Sugar-leaf, bordered by the ocean, stretching
to the horizon on one side and sky-piercing
peaks on the other. Arrived at Petropolls
station one may almost imagine himself in
New York city, 80 beset is he by vocifsrous
hack drivers. There are a number of good
hotels in the town, each Of which sends a ear
riage to the station for guests.
PETRoPoLIs DESCRIBED.
D.x- L.. -.
in that part Of the Organ mountains known as
the Sierra da Estrella. 1t Is barely 5000 feet
above the sea, yet so cool and bracing is the at
mosphsre that mornings and evenings the SEM
blance of a wood fire is welcome. and light
blanket is needed on the bed at night-while the
orange groves are golden with fruit and flowers
riot everywhere. It's population varies with the
time Of year, from about 2 COO regular inhabitants
to perhaps 10, 600 during .'the season." Through
the midst OF the town runs a river, the Pa
banha, berdered by rows of willow trees out
lining carriage drives and fringed with droop-
ing lilies whose great white flowers perfume
the air. 1t IL a shallow stream. now ripping
quietly along its deep artificial channel but they
tell us that after one night Of rain during the
wet season it often bursts all bounds and over
flows the roads fer miles. Other pretty noun
tain streams, shaded by trees and fringed with
flowers, ripple through the irregularly built up
streets Of the village, and add much to its
romantic beauty. There are some very hand
some residences. and some that are more
unique than beautiful, while oddly painted
country houses are strewed away in romantic
hooks Of the adjacent hills and alleys.
THE KMPEReR's PALACE.
In the center Of the town is the emperor's
palace mass of yellow wall looming up
amid beautiful surroundings of roses and
lawns. 1t il neither SO extensive nor SNOWY
as the palace Of Sac Christavos, but is said to
be much more comfortable. Its grounds are
laid out according to French taste, as are most
Of the public and private gardens of BRAZIL
with q distressing characteristic Of patchwork
regularity in circles. squares and triangles, the
fayorite border for these flower beds being in
verted glass bottles. During the empire the
palace and grounds were always open to visit
ors whenever the imperial family were alb
sent, and attendants showed one around with
l had selected PetropOlis for a future summer
residence I'm l843. think, it was decided to
establish German colony here, and about
8 600 Teutens were brought over and located,
many Of them finding employment on the old
road Two thousand or more
descendants Of those first families yet live in
the neighborhood Of Pstropolis, cutivating
small farms and vineyards and in strolling
among the fair-haired, blue-eyed, red-cheeked
cottagers-so different from the BRAZIL
ians-one inagines himself in the vine-clad
Of Germany. The longer a northerner
stays here the more he wonders Why his
wealthy countrymen continue to fsck. year
after year, like sheep after . bell wether. to
the same old places-Newport, Nahant, Sara
toga, Cape Msy-when for less money they
might live in paradise in one Of these rose
palm shaded chalets, amid the
most magnificent scenery on earth. Our mid
summer months are the coolest and healthiest
time Of the year in Brazil, and nov that there
10 . direct line OF steamers between New York
and Rio the four weeks voyage 10 a. easy a
delightful FANNIE b WARD.