The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-04-21
stroIling Around Rio.

e llA
,. ne JASElRo, March 9Th, If ever
] . was city of contradictions-a
repulsive and charming, disappoint-
nJ delightful-it is this vile smelling
rrnace which the early Portuguese
,hed saint Sebastian of the River of
mary, Even it's atmosphere is con-
/ .3i,tory. On days when every thing
| ,Jc steams and you feel yourself dis
,nc in perspiration, you arc amazed
and that the thermometer registers less
an ii often does in New York-here sell
d., ralsing above s. deg. fahrenheit. But
..i. a humidity in the air that kills all
/ ....n and gives to every object, animate
|, animate, clammy, sticky moisture
/ -blt yau expect to wake up some morn
,oi find Yourself covered all over with
. moald and fungi, like the walls
-rpe hunks. An Algerian sirocco is
oppressive at any day here between
mlltI|Io 81 NptttDtI ttllNl vi oN -ltl Illt
Arq1 wind is only an occasional misery,
,4etng more than three days at a
rr While here it is continuous, worse
m,,lNc hy night than by day, until you
, ~LAdlack, MeShach and Abednago.
vas Try heat they suffered and Bib
! Al history tells us that they came out
I, ummed- which is good deal more
4 r .ql I've said of you after week in
4 II IS not easy to describe this queer
4 pNn. because there is nothing else
l .rp to which one can compare it. Its
sauo-Poltuguese origin is every where
4 mnCnf. suggesting a mixture of BARGE
n Seville. Cadiz- seasoned with a dash
!. u,nups~ borrowed from its numerous
3.y 5tizeps of African descent and a
4 a N9mth of color entirely its own.
u ttpu the mountains close by, with
ncipitouS sides and eccentric vaga-
a oi fplnl-nonc of them being straight,
Gaming in one direction or the
d. NJ ii il mighty wind had blown them
EwA i've a sort ut crazy appearance to
A umtry which is enhanced by the
4 vIn- clouds that roll about the peaks
N fmgh the vast valleys and gorges
n fatea chem. exhibiting the strange and
N mlu effects of cloud and moisture
ial Ia tropical landscapes and never
u colder climates. The streets in
4 iuow and twisted courses, repeat
U.5 OF bodybuilding which the Moors
-I4 into the lbelian peninsula. with
RueaNI inspirations in the way OF tiled
Etds proiecting balconies, narrow win
SN> mehed door ways and elaborate
Fuu.D- all clothed in Il very Joseph coat
n maly colors. 1t even eXcels CadiZ in
4 ktoidoscopic hucs OF its roofs and
M iu the pale pinks, yellows and
b.. If IAc AndaluSian seaport, lntcn-
b. Brazil to glaring reds. greens, pur
b., ri orange. Amid the brown or
ag5 months that make up 50 large Il
81 ojau OF the Northern years, moth
td be more absurd than this sys-
r. d, architecture and decoration; but
lAplcal skies they seem to be the
r products OF the sun and soil, as
3tr 10 their surroundings as the
that tower above the blossom
hes That riot over them.
ow-dhl census has ever been taken
.1 J.J it is believed that about 800. 000
4 Ncur croWded within the narrow cres-
hlFd space between the mountains
'be Sea-. Hcmmed in by granite wall
'ie and deep water on the other.
cui never grow amy wider, and so
las ,lotched out at both ends, >trag-
nGui twelve miles around the pro
-,'u- mrbor, which, by the way is
} the shape Of a pear. the narrow
uno" representing the stem of the
Most Of the streets are extremely
HoW generally not more than ten feet
". paved with Belgian blocks, with an
D. central drain to which they slope. and
III fitc foot wide side walks on a level
N tlt street. Canton, and others OF
neat Chinese cities, have streets as
le is those of Rio Janeiro. The houses.
a'ly b" them quite hidden by the tower
oallnS that line some of these cow
in streets, are no two alike. and range
En- 'NN to four stories in height. One
he curious features is the absence of
rEtuda. which, in the minds of globe
NVtN have become intimately associated
IDEAS of hot weather. In lieu OF the
IAdd tbe better houses show in their
per stories broad, deep notches each
'qli oi npcn-air parlor, tinted us deli
f} is a lady's boudoir. often elabor-
w leacoed. furnished with rattan and
N"idS, chairs and tables, embellishcd
N'alNarN and tloored with TalaveIa
N"mc Of these cool posts of obser-
lp' lave narrow windows of colored
'% set III their sides surrounded by a
'@lV4 ct gliding, carving and color, and
III effect is particularly unique especial
"0rn the outer walls of the house are
witt blue and yellow tiles. as is fire.
'lIIO llu
'oe water $ edge, notably on that
the bay known as Botafogo; and
'Ar slopes OF the surrounding noun
'> some of the most charming homes in