Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-04-01
An INTERESTING LETTER.
Continued from first page.

cOHee trade. more than half or the
coffee shipped from this port goes to
the States. During our stay in Santos
the heat was. terrific, although the
place is always hot we were there in
the middle of the southern summer
when the February sun beat down up
on the white sand in way that made
even the natives complain.
While here / became acquainted
with the American consul. He is a
graduate of the University of Michi-
gan. having attended the law school
there. After three days run from
Santos, the steamer arrivse at Monte
Vido. which is the capital of Uruguay
and is situated at the mouth of the
Plate. OF the cities visited, Monte
Video looks the most like an Ameri
can city. 1t is very different from the
cities of Brazil. One sees no more of
the luxurient foliage which is a
feature of the cities of the tropics. and
the weather is decidedly cooler.
A few hours journey up the river
Plate brings the steamer to Buenos
Aires. the METROPOLIS of South
America, and the largest Spanish
speaking city in the world. Buenos
Aires compares very favorablv with
North American cities. There are
good docks and the streets and avenues
are fine and well kept. The streets
are. in general. narrow except in the
newer suburbs. The principal
thoroughfare is the Avenida de Mavo.
MAY Avenue) which is a good deal
like the Avenida Centeral Of Rio de
Janeiro. In the north west part of
the city is the beautiful and botanical
and geological gardens. The fine
residence section is near Palermo
Park. Although Buenos Aires is the
eighth city of the world in order of
population. IL contains verv little of
interest TO the tourist / have heard
many people sneak of this feature.
The place boasts of the largest news
paper Office and largest club house in
the world, but after visiting these
buildings and Palermo Park. and after
attending some of the theaters, there
is nothing II ore of interest to see.
The people of Buenos Aires are
linguists. Most every one knows "a
little English l was surprised at tie
amount of English | heard spoken on
of German and French and Italian
are much used. The proprietor of the
hotel at which | was stopping told me
that the play Merry Widow had
been gwen there during the past
winter in five different languages.
In Argentine aud in Brazil and
Uruguay as well prices are high for
necessities of life. food. wearing
aDDarel tobacco, etc. At home meat
is considered as one of the items that
makes the cost of living expensive.
Here ii is just tie contrary. Meat is
one of the cheapest articles of food
and the people live on heavy meat
diet, milk. butter. and eggs are very
expensive and in manv places not
obtainable. Clothing averages about
twice as high as in the states. The
South Americans smoke great manv
cigaretts. hut they content themselves
with very poor quality of tobacco.
Many coming here from the states are
unable to use it. American tobacco is
little used. the price being prohibit
tive
The South Americans are great con-
sumers of alcoholic drinks, especially
wine. Whether in the restaurant. the
dining car. or the house. everyone
drinks it, and children, no matter how
young, are encouraged in its use. IL is
a common sight in theater or cafe to
see Young children. scarcely old
enough to sit In a chair. consuming
large glasses of wine In spite of the
universal custom of drinking however.
verv few cases of drunkenness are seen
on the streets
The city of San Tuis is on the main
line of the Buenos Aries and Pacific
railway about 500 miles from Buenos
Aires. Ii is the capital of the povince
of San Tuis. an unprogressive state.
some hundred years behind the rest of
the republic. The city is situated on
the arid tract of land midway between
the fertile soil of the east of the repub-
lie and the fruit belt in the foothills
of the Andes The height above sea
level is about 3. 400 feet The number
of inhabitance il about Ii. 600