Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-17

again in the evening, everybody as is any
body" hies to the Rua do Ouvidor, a narrow
alleyway in which two meeting carriages
could not possibly pass, were carriages
allowed In that street-which they are
not
Like the Portales Of Lima, the Alemada
of Santiago, the Plaza Victoria of Buenos
Ayres and La Independents of Monte
video, IL is the fashionable promenade and
beauty, show of Rio. where firtations are
carried on and matches made between the
''gilded youth" and dark-eyed damsels Of
Portuguese -Spanish-Negro blood. During
fashionable hours the Ouvidor is literally
packed with people. not only from end to
end, but from wall to wall-for the middle
of the street is as frequently patronized as
the three-foot-wide sidewalks. Here new
dresses direct from Paris and 'creations" in
bonnets are displayed for the first time to
the admiring populace; while officers
of the army and navy, in all
the glory of gold lace and gaudy
uniforms and officers from the
ships of every nation anchored in the
harbor, add brIlliancy to the scene-the
darmes that constitute the police of Rio, in
their ludicrously elaborate costumes The
diamond dealers and other principal mer-
chants have their establishments in the Rua
Ouvidor, and SO have the curio collectors
and the venders of those exquisite feather
flowers made by the Brazilian nuns.
Ugliest Flag in the World.
As in Buenos Ayres and Montevideo, the
principal streets are spanned by gas Jets set
at frequent intervals, for Illuminating the
city on feast days-which are as many and
merry in Rio as elsewhere in South Amer
lea. Every house has its flagstaff project
ing over the street, and on all occasions of
religious or patriotic rejoicing everybody
runs up the ugliess flag on earth--the bill
ious-looking green and yellow banner of
Brazil T.. ,....
There are tramways of both broad and
narrow gauge, running in every direction;
and the cars, which are open at the sides and
drawn by mules, are universally called
"bonds," though their proper name of CAIRO
for . street car, and people would stare at
you in astonishment; ask for ''bond" and
anybody can direct you.
1t happened in this way: When the
modern innovation was introduced into the
antique city, bonds were issued to pay for
it. The public mind was greatly exercised
over these bonds, which gave rise to great
deal of excited discussion. The uneducated,
hearing the English word "bonds" so often
spoken, were at loss to know what 1t
meant, until the first car appeared; then
they said, .'there is one of those much
talked-of bonds And to this day they
have been called ..'bonds" all over Brazil
Tbs Scramble for Seats There.
Everybody rides and the cars are always
crowded. In certain localities at certain
hours there is terrific scramble for seats,
in which ladies sometimes have their gowns
torn and men their hats knocked off; but it
is generally good natured struggle, and
people will stand hour after hour, making
dash for every car that comes along, until
they at last secure a seat.
During the days of royalty in Brazil the
Princess Imperial and her noble husband,
the Comte d. Eu, and all the rest of their
highnesses, including the Emperor himself
and his gentle spouse, in full dress and
glittering uniform and dazzling Jewels, used
to board mule car in which to ride from
their palatial residence in the suburbs to
the Imperial Theater de Dom Pedro Sc
gundo.
Besides the frst-class cars there are
cheaper ones for the noble army of un-
washed, and these second-class vehicles are
labeled Descalcas-the word, literally
translated, meaning the same as sans
culottes-barefooted
FANNIE b WARD.