The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-02-06
RIO DE EIRO
Capital Of Brazil and Greatest CITY in
South America

de Janeiro the ships track lies east
ward about one thousand miles. and
then southawrd about thirty-six hun
dred miles. The greater part Of this
journey is through an ocean desert.
1t is very rarely that either ships. or
sea fowl. or even flying fish are Wis
lbie. journey of about twenty days
brings us to the harbOr Of Rio
After crossing the equator one OBJ
served that the Southern heavens are
not so rich in consultations as the
Northern. The Southern Cross is
quite insignificant in comparison with
the Great Dipper, which is still to
be seen on the far northern horizon,
turned bottom upwards.
A Brazilian City
The Bay Of Rio is enclosed i'm a cir
cult of about eighty miles of coast
line, along the edge of which, and
running back in the gorges between
the hills. are the lines Of houses which
make up the city. They are all Of the
Latin style of architecture, exactly
like the houses we see in Lisbon or in
Naples. They are of stuccO walls
with tiled roofs, and painted in all the
COlOrs of the rainbow. Many of them
are adorned with a profusion of sculp-
tured and baS-relief ornaments The
business streets are narrow, mean
and ill-smelling, and the pity is that
SO little fire is used that there is little
homo nf Hop IN
clear them out and make room for
something more modern. The princi-
pal one is called the "Ouvidor," on
which no vehicles are allowed except
at specified hours, and which. in the
afternoons, is always crowded with
ly attired, some going on business err
rands and some conversing in the
most animated style on the morning
proceedings of the National Congress.
The business houses and residences
are intermingled. The balcony win
dows, which are the universal feature
of domestic architecture, are always
full Of women leaning on their ell
bows observing and being observed
This phenomenon appears everywhere
in Brazil. not only in large cities, but
also in small towns and even in farm
houses in the coutry.
There are many beautiful gardens
in Rio Of tropical flowers and foliage
plants, palms and grasses and ave
nues Of overarching bamboo. The mu-
nicipality deserves credit for its eff
forts to beautify the city In this way
Almost every private residence thai
aspires to any degree Of elegance /:
surrounded by a lovely flower garden
The Big Brother
Brazil bases her claims to beinl
first on her superiority of size ant
her national development. This re
public contains almost half of all tn
people in South America, and con
siderably over half Of all it's fertil
area. There consequently is CROWN,
in the minds Of Brazilians a feelini
that they are placed somewhat in tn
position Of a larger brother toN tn
other South American countries
providential leadership in that CONT
nent somewhat similar to that Of tn
United States in the Western hemi
Isphere. Their national position on tn
continent is well shown by many o
the events during recent months
Immediate aid for the Chilean earth
lQuake sufferers to the extent Of a mil
! lion dollars; vast improvements o
the national capital. The city of Ri
de Janeiro, with it's Sc, 900 souls. pre-
sents the appearance of city turne
over to a modern Baron Haussma
by another Napoleon. Regardless @
existing buildings or thOroughfares
one Of the widest and most magnifi
cent bOulevards in the world is bein
thrown across the center of the cit!
Modern docks Of ample capacity an
convenience are making the mos
beautiful bay Of the world also on
Of the most finely equipped. Sixt
million dollars is the sum whic
Brazil sees fit to spend upon theS
improvements of the metropolis whic
treDresentS the nation before tn
world Similar work is seen in man
other parts of the land.