The Somerset reporter., 1894-03-22

E
to Am r.r,n<-An Interesting Story of
How They do Things Down There.
NEW YORK. March CA special CORE
| spondent at Rio de Janeiro. under date Of
FEB "A, tells the following interesting
story:
John T Lewis is the vice consul
general here. and at present he Ia acting
consul general His uncle, William T.
Towbes. is the consul general, but he is
now on leave of absence 1t Is affirmed
| by Americans that Mr.. Lewis has swollen
under the Influence of his official posi-
ton To say that Vice Consul Lewis is
an unframed product does not, in the
view OF resident Americans, fully mark
,heI measure of bis unftness for respon
.ible position.
When those OF his own land in difficulty
have applied TO him for official direction
or assistance his attitude and utterances
have been arrogant to the point OF insult
if not OF abuse. He pays absolutely no
heed to the complaints of his countrymen
other than to affront them, and they are
forced to the L nited States naval officials
for redress
1t has been fortunate TINT so able man
rs Admiral Bcnham has had practically
complete charge Of American interests
here. Vice Consul Lewis has sworn at dis
tressed sailors who have appealed TO him,
and in various ways is brutal and dis
gushing. Arrlericans declare that natur-
ally and by lack of acquired attachments,
Vice Consul Lewis is wholly untitled for
the position which he Is presumed to oc-
cupy but does not FILL and that he should
be instantly recalled to private life
where he will no longer bring humila-
ton and suff ering to his fellow country
men.
Brazilian Opera Bouffe.
When an unsophisticated young person
first attends an opera and sees gang of
conspirators openly discussing their plot
on the street corners, or hears tribe of
robbers singing at the top of their voices,
he thinks the whole thing nonsense. But
If the aforesaid young man could spend
few weeks watching n Brazilian revolu
ton he might come to think the opera
real life after all.
Two instances in point have recently
occurred here The first was in connec
ton with II proposed uprising in the city,
in favor of the rebels, in which number
tional Guard were involved. The details
of the plot were worked out on a Friday
night. The citizens were to go on Mon
day morning to San Conceicaro and Sande
Hills garrisoned by the government.
The officers there in the plot, were to
admit them and then join them with as
many of their soldiers as they could per
suade to do so. The other soldiers were
to be overpowered or killed. The rebel
fleet at the first shot or at n given signal
WAS to hurry in and land its men to help
the plotters.
Their total force would be small, not
over thousand men; but it would occupy
a strong position and would probably be
rapidly increased by volunteers from the
city. So far the plot was strictly bust
ness. But now the comic opera element
comes in.
Brazilian Brilllancy.
Nearly every consprator went about
town telling all his friends on the streets,
In the horsecars, anywhere-that the next
day Peixoto WAS to be humbled and the
revolution was to be successful. The
British, who are very intimate with the
rebels, were, of course, notified, and the
two principal banks went so far as to post
notices informing their clerks that they
need not come to business on Monday II
there was heavy firing. OF course, in less
than an hour. every one in the CONNER
cial quarter knew that something was
going to happen on Sunday and Monday.
And, of course. the government knew it
too.
Even then the plot came near succeed
ing through the influence Of another
opera bouffe idea. On the stage muir
derer may openly form his plot on one
side, while the victim complacently
makes love on the other. 1t would, how
ever, be contrary toall precedent for the
victim to overhear the murderer and spoil
the denouemeDt. So in Brazil
1t seemed somehow unfair for the gov,
eminent to discover the plot before the
rebels were ready and consequently pre-
vent the fun. Nothing was done or said
on Sunday to obstruct the success of the
uprising. 1t was only on Sunday evening
when the rebel fleet anchored close to the
city that any action was taken, The sus
pected regiments were then moved and IA
number of arrests of officers and citizens
were made. 1t is said that Is officers
were shot If so, 1t was done secretly.