The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-09-23

spend most of their waking hours in this
way, but the habit is universal-probably
the natural outcome of the National
characteristic of morbid curiosity, en-
HANGED by the Latin notion that for
females "a little learning is dangerous
thing" that reading is not good for
them, and that work of every kind
should be left entirely to the servants.
Thus ladies of upper tendon have not
even the care of their own children to
occupy their thoughts, and society Or
dams that they must not walk abroad
unless accompanied by some male rel
alive. Therefore the poor things are
driven to pass much of their time lOung-
ing in balconies and hanging out of
windows. The only alternative is
religion or music. Day after day one
may hear them strumming over and
over the same lightest of French, Spanish
and Portuguese operas, until one
wonders why the neighbors are not
driven mad, as perhaps they would be
were not the noise partially drowned by
what they are making themselves.
Shopping in Brazil is difficult, the
merchants blocking their own doorways
in an overwhelming desire to see what
other people are doing. If you insist on
buying something the shopkeeper takes
no apparent interest either in your
business or his own. In reply to your
inquiry for an article he is quite likely
to say he has it not, although it may be
in plain sight, and should you point it
out, lie will smile and elevate his eye
brOws as if to say, "What persistent
bores these foreigners arew Or perhaps
if you ask for particular thing he will
direct you to the case or drawer where it
ought to be, and leave you to search for
yourself, while he hurries back to his
street gazing and gOssiping. No matter
how much or how frequently you buy,
there is never any discount; and if you
object to an eXtOrtionate price, the
merchant smiles politely, shrugs his
shoulders and turns his entire attention
to the cigarette he has all the time been
smoking, as if glad to get rid of you on
any terms.
And then it is so exasperating to take
long walk in the broiling sun to find
the shops all closed, as they are about
two-thirds of the day, Sundays excepted,
because it happens to be some saints
day or patriotic anniversary, or because
the alleged business hours have not be-
gun, or maybe they are over for that
day, though the streets are yet thronged
with possible customers doomed to dis
appointment
One observes with surprise that no
matter how ample Brazilian's city lot
may be, he builds his house so that its
front walls are flush with the hot, dusty,
reeking pavements-for no other reason
than to crafty his irresistible impulse
of inquisitiveness. The finest mansion
in Rio is a fair example of this idiosyn-
cracy. 1t is an immense three-story
palace; and though backed by many
acres of land, extending down to the
beautiful bay and covered with splendid
old trees, fruits, flowers, fountains and
statuary-the grounds are neglected be-
cause its front windows, unshaded by
tree or screen, open directly upon the
most noisy street in Rio; and there the
family congregate, forever looking out
with curiosity undated. In theatre
they often turn their backs ON the stage
to stare at each other.