Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-03

than which none finer can be found in the
world, one remembers that all the tradi-
tions Of earth speak of Paradise as a place
where palm trees grow. But Brazil must
be long way from Paradise, or the place
has greatly changed since Ewes peccadillo.
The flowers have no perfume, the birds no
song, death is frightfully busy everywhere,
and the people-well, the kindest thing to
be said of them is that the majority are not
such as one would like to associate with
through eternity. A tangled mass of wild,
luxurlant vegetation crowds close to the
city, full of birds of the most beautiful
plumage, bugs that look like jewels and
blossoms of vivid scarlet, purple and gold
that make the woods appear ablaze. There
are no delicate hues nor gentle tints, but
everything is intense. The whole country
seems painted red and yellow, unprotected
from the scorching rays of the sun, because
the palm trees grow too tall to cast a
shadow-their round, smooth trunks, like
exaggerated telephone poles, towering, per-
haps, 200 feet from the ground before the
first great leaf shoots out. Alas! ''the
trail OF the serpent is over it all, in fact as
well as fguratively. Many of the gem
like bugs are fatal in their sting, and you
never touch Leaf or a flower without the
uncomfortable consciousness that under it
death may be lurking in some guise.
Paradise of the Tarantuia.
And the tarantulas We thought that
long ago in the hot lands of Mexico we had
made the acquaintance of pretty respecta-
BILE specimens-so far as size goes-of those
hairy denominations; but none of them could
hold candle to those that abound in Bra
ziL., Ever since we came there has been one
lurking in our hotel bedroom, visible only
OF inf 10 xuhA toI
impish desire to torment strangers, he will
dart from some unknown source and scud
across the floor, rolled up in brown, DOLLY
ball large as hens egg. The instant his
spidership appears we rush frantically to
the bell rope and summon the servants,
when general hunt is inaugurated; but al
ways to no purpose, for the wretch puts
himself out OF sight like a second harle-
quin.
The very best advice can offer to the
uninitiated coming to Brazil is this: Never
step out OF bed sipperless in the dark, nor
put bare foot down by day without first
looking sharp to where it is going; nor don
your hose nor shoes nor any other article of
clothing without first treating t like bot
tie of medicine "to be well shaken before
taken" Never get into bed without first
inspecting the curtains and looking care
fully between the sheets and under the pill
lows. Never poke careless fingers under a
table spread or rug, or into any darkened
corner, nor rashly walk into thicket or
clump of flowers, or even among rank grass.
Never take active exercise in the hottest
part of the day, nor expose yourself to the
chilly, poison-laden dews of the night, nor
drink water when you are heated, or ice
water at any time. Eschew bananas and
most fruits as you would SO much arsenic.
Keeping Away From Fever.
Whenever you meet an overpowering
stencil in the streets (and that will be at al
most every step in some localities) don't
stop to scold about it. but cover your nose
and mouth with your handkerchief and flee
as from a pestilence--which it really is.
Avoid, if you eau, any spot where an old
wall is being torn down, or bit of pavement
being taken up, or drain disturbed, for
germs of fever lie dormant till disturbed
And don't be frightened out of your
senses if, while being entertained in Bra
lillian home, you find big snake comfort
ably asleep in your rocking chair, or coiled
under your pillow, or feel his Shiny length
drawn slowly across your neck in the night
time. 1t is only the useful and harmless
which people keep as we at the
North do cats, for exterminating mice and
reaches. 1 have not yet learned how to
spell his Portuguese name, but have been
introduced to him, so to speak, number of
times, and live in hourly dread Of his at
to cultivate a closer acquaintance.
He is commonly from about I to II feet |
black. Already we have been offered sew
sral of these so-called sbeauties" to take |
home with us, as souvenirs of pleasant
visits; and when we have declined the |
honor, without being quite able to disguise
'ur shuddering horror, have been asked |
with surprise. "Don't you have rats and |
:oaches in your country?''
Snakes and Monkeys as Pets.
And it is impossible to tell ones kind |
that we infinitely prefer mil |
ions of rats and reaches to their favorite |
bets. Here dogs are few and cats are fewer;
out every family has parrots and monkeys |
galore, not to mention the useful house |
make, as universally and numerously as we |
oster canary birds and kittens
The political caldron is Just now quiet in |
he Brazilian capital. but all the same it is
eething below the surface, and the silence
s ominous Although General Da Fonseca,
he dcposed President whose legal term
las not yet half expired, is seriously i'll, SO
hat his enemies entertain cheerful hopes of
lis demise, it is by no means certain that
le will not regain control of the admins
ration, for his friends are surprisingly |
numerous, considering the facts of the case.
General Peixotto, the present occupant of
he Executive chair, is rather fine looking
in early middle life-a Portu-
.oose to the back k-bone; but evidently he is
lot enjoying the greatness that has been
hrust upon him. To tell the truth, the
nan is almost scarced into insanity, living
n constant terror of the assassin's knife or
ullet, or of another revolution which
nay break out at any moment. Every day
r two he changes. his residence, and never
n without q ctr 10 cold |