Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-06-06
BRAZILIAN LETTER.
History and Customs OF the Great
Southern Republic.


CONTINUED from last week.
SAC PAULo, BRAZIL, April 5, 1901.
! Yet with all that can be said in its favor
I Sac Paulo is a mighty poor city compared
I by our standards, and that is due solely ia
the people, for its situation has every Other
advantage For one who would sacrifice
/ the best years of his life for money, and
had some to start with. il is undoubtedly
good place to make money. But il
would have 10 be done mostly in manu-
featuring, or perhaps later IN mining IN
the far interior, where lays the finest
marble the world has. Here is found tin,
copper, a little iron, gold and diamonds,
though the two latter are almost govern
ment monopoly.
Coffee planting is a business that is
entirely in the hands of few thousand
large proprietors, and is business one
cannot go into without long experience,
that is, with any profit, for coffee brings
very low prices, eight TO ten cents pound.
Santos IS the largest coffee shipping port
in the world and from il about sl0,0O0,0OO
worth goes to the United States, and, be it
said with shame, not one-tiftieth in
American ships. A burning disgrace,
also, is our consular service in all South
American ports, and for that matter all
over the world, except in the larger cities,
and we come near being the laughing
at Santos receives 1909 sterling OF $500,
and our consul $500, which is not suffi-
cient to support family, to say nothing
Of the expenses incidental on all diplomatic
or consular work. Moreover, in a port
where trade with the United States is
go, 000,O 900 a year, our consul is priest,
not even an Irish priest, but an Italian,
with whom the eonsuls OF other nations
will associate only in a business way, and
the greater part of whose time is spent at
mass or confessional. His predecessor
under President Harrison was big negro
from New Orleans, paid for campaign
services at the expense OF those citizens
of the United States who are doing more
for her prestige in this part Of the earth
than every campaign orator FROM Frisco TO
Maine. It is said the negro skipped out
after having borrowed money to live on
from everybody, and the British consul
paid his office rent TO prevent a scandal.
more distant perspective has made me
no less proud that / am an American, nor
do see less Of our glory, but | can see far
better how backward we are in some
things, and what good grounds other
nations have TO ridicule our shortcomings. |
A petition has been sent to Secretary Hay |
stating the results Of bad consular service !
in Brazil, and asking for efficient consuls, |
and it was signed by every American in
Brazil. Like petitions were sent TO some |
Of the Senators, so ! presume there has |
been a discussion ere this that may
awaken some OF our people to the folly OF |
the spoils system in diplomatic service,
April 20.
Yesterday was Patriots day in Massa-
though ! suppose it did not |
affect you in Vermont, but / thought OF |
the day, and how | would like to be on a
wheel spinning toward Concord this year. |
But plainly see that not even next year |
shall / be there unless something unusual |
happens, for though my year will be up |
with December, have learned that il viii /
not be safe to 60 back till warm weather.
Even in the short time / have been here,
have become somewhat used to the heat, |
and now that the change of seasons is here
and the thermometer is down to 60 in the
it seems cold as a November
And then, too, we have dense
logs that last till 9 a. m. and then until
; p m. it is hot, though the mercury does
not go above So, but the air is damp most
of the year.
Have not time to write OF all the plans
have made for the coming year. but il is a
great comfort to be able to think of them
down here though year to look forward
Is century, but | do not intend to give up
my trip across the continent. II is quite
likely shall 90 home via steamer TO New
Orleans and up the Mississippi valley,
Is II viii take no longer nor cost more,
md is an excellent chance to see the
south.
April 30.
Mail last night but was four days late as
he boat was delayed by storms off
You ask what stars we see here. The
'ame, but not with the same brilliancy,
md so the "dipper" is faint in outline,
ind the north star does not show to the
naked eye, but we see the Southern Cross
plainly, of course. As we are 20O0 miles to
he east of New York, we are also two
hours ahead in time. Also / learn from
'our last letter that you have sent
extracts from my letters to the HERALD,
which must have been very fragmentary
Had intended writing a general letter to
he editor when | had time and knew
more Of the country, but will not now as
'ou have anticipated me. Also, you say
several of my friends wish they were in
ny place." but tell them life here is not
ii bed of roses, and the thorns are very
ARTHUR G.. SMITH.
Can't be perfect health without pure