The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-02-17

Lecture by Bishop g. w. Peserkin on
Brazil and His Recent Trip VISIT
ing the Missionary Stations In

Brazil and His Recent Trip Visit.
ing the Missionary Stations in
that Country.
Notwithstanding the. very inelem-
emit weather, fair audience gathered
at the Commencement Hall to hear
the distinguished divine.
After giving a short description OF
his trip from New York to London,
which was without special incident,
and after spending about a week in
England, be took the steamer for
Rio Janeiro. The entire trip repre-
sented about $4,000 miles travel, and
rs days sailing on the ocean. The
Bishop describes the coast of Brazil
as low, marshy region except at a
few pointsSwhich cannot be reached
except by lighters or small row
boats, as there is wide expanse of
shallow beach extending from three
to FIVE miles out from the land. The
towns from the deck of the vessel
look well, but are anything but in
yiting when a person reaches them.
The houses are generally one story
buildings, the streets unpaved and a
general air of neglect pervades every
thing. The windows are frequently
built out somewhat in the form of a
bay window, so that persons can
stand in them and see up and down
the street. He describes the popula
ton as lazy and indifferent, and liv-
ing apparently in a state of expec-
fancy, as In walking along the streets
one is struck by the fact that every
body seems to be trying to look out
of windows, and the ladies of Brazil
appear to devote the major part of
their time looking up aud down the
streets.
The greater portion of the Bishops
time was devoted to the southern
province of Brazil where there is the
most immigration, and the largest
amount of coffee produced. There
are large numbers of European set
tiers scattered over this territory,
which has a climate hot very unlike
the Gulf Coast of this country.
The houses are generally not pro-
yided with means for heating them,
and in cold weather the people sit
around and shiver, the Bishop find
ing it uncomfortable in many cases
with his overcoat on. 1t was winter
time when he was there.
The intelligence of the native Bra
zilians is generally very low, and the
influence of the priesthood is rather
against general education. The NOR
atty of the country, judged by our
standards, is not high. The churches
are principally attended by the wo-
men and the educated classes of men
generally accept the philosophy of
Comte and have little faith in the
system of theology promulgated by
the priesthood, and do not attend
church.
The alleged establishment of Re
public in Brazil has not been of ad-
vantage to the country, as it is moth
ing more than a military despotism.
The present revolution In Brazil is
simply a war between the Army and
Navy, in which the great mass Of the
people take no interest, and the rev.
olution directly affects about one
man in thousand. The mass of the
population appears to consider the
government of Dom Pedro better
than that of the alleged Republic,
but in both cases it is matter of
great indifference to them. The rev.
olution is represented by few mil
itary leaders, who are fighting over
the spols.
The Bishop says that the climate
is generally so balmy, and so little
effort is required for man to satisfy
his few wants, that the population,
including the European immigration,
has gradually relaxed into a state of
lethargy which is Incompatible with
the highest political, intellectual or
religious development, and he thanks
God that he lives in country where
every influence tends to promote
higher life, and where the spirit of
the people demands continual pro-
gress. He comes home with pro-
found spirit of thankfulness that his
lot has been cast in such a land as
ours, where neither the influence of
climate nor the traditions and super.
stitions of the past tend to dwarf
man and TO render him oblivious to
the conditions of his present or fu-
ture life.
After experiencing considerable
difficulty in returning to Rio Janeiro
and being compelled to remain in
that city for a considerable time, an
unwilling observer of the lombard
ment of the city. and the almost con
tinuous firing between the govern
ment forts and the rebel feet, with
missiles of war flying in all directions
over the city and over the harbor,
rendering life and property unsafe,
one shell striking the hotel in which
the Bishop was stopping, he at last
succeeded in getting away upon
steamer bound for London. After
spending short time in England,
he took steamer for New York
Those who attended the lecture
were amply repaid for Drawing the
inclement night, and it is only 10 be
regretted that more of our citizens
did not have the privilege of hear
ing him. LAM.