Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-30
IN BEAUTIFUL BRAZIL.
Scenes in the Empire Stnte of south
America.

Scenes in the Empire Stnte of South
America.
Rio de Janeiro Letter in Galveston News,
Rio de Janeiro is the capital of the empire
state of South America, the New York of
the tropics. No wonder that the Swiss,
looking for the first time on the native
splendor of the Brazilian bay and its cir
clet of mountains exclaimed: "C'est
THelvetic Meridionale.' Ut is the south
eriand Switzerland) The winter COM
mences in May and lasts till November.
The dry months embrace June, July and
August, though the occasional showers in
the months of September and October are
far from being unpleasant. They are the
cooling signals that beckon the coming of
summer.
To say that the winter has been pleas
ant period would be but tame expression
for the summing up of four months cx-
perience in this delightful climate and
wonderful region. The thermometer has
ranged from GO to so degrees.
Suppose you meet me in Rio in the Smil-
ing. rosy month of May next. You can
take steamship at New York with freight
for the intermediate ports. You will have
a few days at Bahia, Pernambuco and
Victoria.
The winter months will scarcely give you
time enough to explore the city and its
suburbs You will be curious, of course,
to walk through the ouvidor. The most of
the faces, l am glad to say. will reveal the
Caucasian features IN their purity. The
gentlemen are scrupulously dressed AMI
the ladies would feel at home in Paris or
New York.
An hours ride will bring you to the Ma
ti""al Museum. formerly the emperor's
palace. As you approach the favorite re-
sort Of the scholarly and Eood-hearted
Pedro. admiration excited by the enchant-
ing scenery will be mingled with sadness
as you recall his sudden and forced leaving
for the ship that was waiting his arrival
m hos htrypf n I1,ya Hch aI ltx-nxl
for more than generation. happy father
and a faithful husband, and We may add,
a conscientious ruler.
A day passed at Nichtheroy sleeping
Waters) will add to your experience joy
hitherto unknown Every half hour the
steamer waits to accommodate pleasure
seekers, AS you. glide by the foreign
ships, including the freights of several
nations. you will become convinced that
Brazil needs only development and a pro-
gressive government TO take her place by
the side of the first nations of the world.
The miles of beautiful beach and the over
hanging mountains combine all that you
can enjoy in Galveston and Newport.
Rio is the city Of parks and gardens.
Santa Anna contains a grotto covering an
acre of ground. 1t is the work of an artist
still living among u.s. In my simplicity 1
took it T. be~se+freak of nature. 1t is pile
of immense boulders with galleries. streams
of running water, with here and there a
petrified tree
The Botanical Garden is perhaps the most
popular resort Two rows of royal palms.
a quarter of mile long, furnish a most
inviting promenade. Some of these palms
are I'D feet high. My eye was quick to
discover in this almost paradise willow
and proud northern pine. The director
is an enthusiast in his way. Like the late
MI. Shaw of st. Louis, he encourages his
agents and friends in all parts of the globe
to aid him in collecting exotics
Are you wearied with your first weeks
explorations? Well, tomorrow we will 90
to church. There viii be at least fifty
chances. We will visit one where Loyoia is
enshrined and where images are crowned
With fresh roses, or seek palmer chapel
whose walls are bare, and whose creed was
written by Calvin: and in the evening we
will drop into the Candefaria, commenced
a century ago. 1t will take good part of
ANOTHER century to complete it. l used to
think that the cathedral in New York could
not be surpassed in the western world but
this edifice is attempting to rival the old
churches of the continent. 1t has already
cost Slo0oW0. and It will soon cons,f;ae
another million. The huge blocks of Rus
sian and italian marble with their rich
colorings and matchless chiseling leave the
critic nothing to do but to admire