Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-05-16
BRAZILIAN LETTER.
ODD Scenes from the Land below the
Equator.
Sac Paulo, Brazil 5. A.,

Equator.
Sac Paulo, Brazil, 5. A.,
February Is, 1901.
NY DEAR PARENTs:-Another mail goes
1 in two DAYS and will write a short letter TO
catch il. The postage on my last letter
was p cents, so must make my letters
| lighter on that account.
7Tbree weeks here and / feel more
eontented, and have learned something OF
the customs of the people, and am picking
up the "Iingo" fairly well. But Just the
same / reckon the weeks to come before
the year will be over and we can get back
to Gods country. Every man mere is
telling OF the good times he VIII nave
when he gets home, and think little
about it myself.
/ shall never like the food here, and
seldom get up from a meal without think
ing what / would have il at home, and
that is the nearest come to being home
sick now. In spite OF all the drawba
such as change of food, climate and other
things. am well and have gained in flesh,
which ] attribute to the many kinds OF
fruits we have daily. ] paid eight cents
for an ordinary russell apple, imported
from the States, and found it corky and
tasteless. Now that cannot get apples,
want them more than anything else.
Fruits, meat and vegetables are plentiful
here. Corn is a sort OF dwarf variety and
wheat will not grow. With three things,
coal, wheat, iron, Brazil could be great
nation; without them, is not, nor never
can be.
We expect great fun when the Carnival
comes in two weeks and 100 Americans are
to Join the crowd, each carrying an
American flag, to show the English ana
the other heathens here that the United
States is on the map.
March u.
Have been here now six weeks and the
time has gone quickly, though It seems an
age, and already i feel ! have lived here
many wears, so accustomed have ! grown to |
the habits and strange sights. At the |
risk OF repeating, ] will mention few. |
The people are OF every nationality, but |
the italians and mixed Brazilians form |
four-fifths OF the whole in nearly equal |
numbers, but the Dagos are the better, l
and indeed they are better class than we |
have in the States. The native Brace, a /
mixture OF Indian and all breeds a few /
ago, is absolutely worthless /
and we have none like them unless il is
the 'spoor white trash down South. The |
negroes are about the same here as in the /
States but are treated better and feel they 4
are as good as anybody. The English here
are a wealthy class OF people and have
their fine houses. So you see we have all
peoples here and sometime ! viii write of
habits, appearances, etc, for the customs
are peculiar TO the country like Hoods
This city is built on several small hills
and looks very fair from a distance, with
its various colored houses and roofs and
he many trees, but a near view is largely
This is a very beautiful climate and with
The right inhabitants might be a paradise,
for all fruits grow wild and the land is
fertile, but the inhabitants are asleep. /
.hnk in time we all would have that same
feeling, for even now am tired and sleepy
no matter how little do. OF course there
ire always exceptions and so there are
some very fine Brazilians here, whom /
nave met and admire One Edward
Souza, son of Commodore Souza, who was
)ne of the leaders in expelling Don Pedro,
vas educated in Belgium and France and
s true gentleman in every way. One
,ousin of his here is graduate of
Institute of Technology,
md another, a nephew of the present
president OF Brazil, and all are intelligent
md pleasant people to meet. | was invited
,ut to Commodore Souza's plantation and
'njoyed It very much.
March 27.
Think ! promised to tell you about the
arrival, but il would take long letter to
10 that, so ii must wait until get home,
)ut will say that II far surpassed my
expectations. Only those who have
the Mardi Gras at New Orleans
II the Carnival at Rome could have any I
dea Of the splendor or of the excitement
nd enthusiasm of the crowds.
For week it has rained INCREASINGLY !
thought had seen 1t rain hard in Boston,
'ut nothing compared TO the downpour
lere.
In my next | viii tell you of wild ride
took with eight other boys Win close
his letter for 1t is rather long already.
ARTHUR q. SMITH.