The times., 1899-11-19

oPORTO. Portugal. Nov. 2.-The travel
er who has visited Rio de Janeiro finds
many things in Oporto to remind him Of
that Portuguese city on the other side OF
the world. Brazil, the former colony Of
Portugal and peopled by the same race
though just now playing al being repub-
Hc-remains as like the mother country in
language, architecture, and habits of life,
as in the days OF King Joao aud the latest
Dom Pedro. And then the money-the
same milreis. so infnItessimal in value
that, If going shopping, you need servant
with q wheelbarrow, rather than pocket
book
On landing at Oporto about the first
thing you do is TO seek some money
changers establishment Ohere are several
along the quay), and get your American
green backs converted into Portuguese coin,
with which to pay porter's fees, carriage
hire and other iucidentals. You hand out
SO. as 9 starter. and are amazed at the
amount Of metaI-coppeT. iron, brass, and
uickel-Which is piled upon the counter IN
return. II looks like old iunk-stOve lids,
pewter plates and the brass tags which
landlords attach 10 their door keys TO pre-
vent Them from being carried OF in the
pockets Of their patrons. If SO is such an
Embarrassment of riches" il would sure
" REQUIRE a cart TO get away with hun
dredt Bookkeepers and bank cashiers
must have a hard time q it in this coun-
Try with the long rows Of figures that rep
resent the ordinary transactions Of banking
and mercantile firms In the financial emu
merauon Of Portugal, 600 reis represent
what we call "a quarter The word,
..reis" is the plural OF real; and the latter
INIT of the monetary system equals one
twentieth OF the American penny and Is
written COOL Fortunately, there Is no
such coin the smallest being ten reis. The
r{eces in greatest circulation are nickel
Of 200 reIs. which answers for our 5-cen'
piece; another nickel Of 100 reis and COP
per coin OF 80 reis. Whenever you buy
anything in Portugal, certain ungalnly
conner coin is sure TO be returned II
change; and not knowing what to do with
II YOU say. keep the change with the ail
~ a John Jacob AstoT. The truth is. II !:
worth less than half q cent and being toC
large 10 uut into the pocket, Is only 1T fol
q paperweight. or 10 drive nails with.
nnneer in Paper Money.
The paper money is lighter, Of course
b,.t equally absurd in values; and there il
more danger in handling it in this plague
snitten CITY. The dirty scrip. which moth
sDg should induce you 10 touch. runs iron
milreis 10 a maximum Of 500. Fancy
full-proportIoned banknote worth cents
IN takes twenty bills, each worth 100 mil
refs 10 pay for the carriage ~ which yo
ride from the landing or railway stauo
20 hotel II IS a long uphill drive an
che Jehu may turn few more honest rel
bv picking up other customers en- route
You observe that the breast Of his check
ered linen blouse which serves the tripl
Durpose Of coat, vest, and shirt, bulge
moro and more as the journey progresses
UntD al its end he looks like a "bloate
honfholder." or q carelessly stuffed scare
crow. having perhaps as much as S25
a. NE clothes One of these deceptive For
tueYese bills closely resembles the dear ol
preenback Of home and has the satisfy
fng figures 500 engraved upon It's back an
pi5es and four corners, together with IA
high-soundlng words, "Quinhentos heis.
ne feeling OF wealth which the possessio
OF q Few OF these produces IN the mind
a stranger is speedily dispelled, hoWeVe
rrhen he finds how little they viii buy. o
snquiring the price OF living al hole