New-York tribune., 1911-03-18


photographs by the author. $40. PIP. ~
3Ss Boston: 7. c. Page & co.
Mr. Winter. who has already to MS
credit books on Mexico and Nicaragua,
possesses the knack Of presenting facts
in a popular way along with his impress
sions Of travel. He does not pose as an
economic or sociological authority. but
observant. alertly interested and well
Informed, he co-ordinates the different
phases of the life of Brazil in manner
that combines a sufficient measure OF
information on all Of them for general
purposes with pleasant. easy reading
The average North American who mas
ters the contents OF this book will find
himself the possessor OF an ample
amount of general knowledge of the af-
fairs and the people Of the largest OF our
Southern sister republics. Throughout
Mr.. Winter while dealing with the pres
cnt looks forward TO the future OF TINS
enormous country and to the posslpln-
ties Of its undevelopod natural resources.
The historical past he reduces to its
simplest outlines.
Worth noticing, first of all. is his man.
ner of describing the size Of the coun-
try in striking comparisons familiar to
all his readers:
The vastness of Brazil is not fully real
ized Ii is not generally known Ihdt
The United States Of Brazil are larger thaii
the United States of America, exclusive OF
Alaska and the island possessions.
A territory Of 2. 9332 $50 square miles. accoIp-
ing 10 the best authorities, makes u tme
ffth country in the world, exceeded IN eN-
tent only by China. the British Einplft'
the United States OF America ana kussia'
The mouth Of the Amazon, he says
little further on, is wider than the entire
length Of the Hudson, and its basin Is as
large as two-thirds Of our own great
country. The developed part OF this vast
territory is a mere fringe along the At
lantic coast; the rest OF 1t awaits the
settler. Contrary to the general impress
sion. the author attaches more impor-
tance to the North italian Immigrant IN
Brazil than to the German, who hitherto
has kept himself aloof from the national
life and from intermarriage with even
the pure Brazllan-i. C., Portuguese
stock. He also devotes some pages 10
body of North American immigrants
Southerners self-eXiled after the END OF
tho Civil War. whose children have pre-
served the speech OF their race. but
whose Grandchildren speak II with a
Latin accent, even as they speak Portu-
guese with an Anglo-SaXon one. lhls
third generation is being slowly absorpen
nv its environment. though fe" or them
as vet take any part in the politics OF
the land.
Coffee and rubber hold their proper
place in these pages so do timber cat
tle. gold and Brazilian diamonds. OF
which latter il is said that during the
Isl years since their discovery I-""'-
600 carats have been taken from the SOIL.
Diamond mining in Brazil requires no
costly machinery. since the deposits are
all alluviaI and are found on the surface
or in and along the beds of rivers.
Mr.. Winter considers the climate oi
Brazil in connection with the iinrnlgra-
ton problem and the possibilities OF the
coi, as a now source of the worlds food
supplv. He pays tribute to what has
boen done for the sanitation Of the prlh-
cinaI cities. which he describes at length
and discusses their social life from the
tourists pleasant point of view. fress'
education and politics receive measure
Of attention. Graft has the country in
IFS grasp. but Mr. Winter suggests that
while il IS part Of his duty TO tax OF
this he does not fcj entitled to throw
vorv large stone As for Brazilian poll
itics:
10 notifies can he blamed the lack Of
advancement I'm MANY lines. said one ~
tLe wealtliaet and most progressive busl-
moss men in Rio to me: Politics is the
curse of this country. IT Is all words ana
delay The politicians like TO talk about
their great country. but when any or the
resources are to be developed II IL not
these men who help to do ii. but II Is Inc
,.rasps il. Compress meets ana talks poll
.ios. instead Of passing the necessary ieS-
islation They want to supsidiZe every
thing instead cf giving competition
chance.
MIR. Winter does not omit the now
familiar admonition to our manufacture
ers and merchants 10 bestir themselves
for the capture Of their share of a mar
ket whose future value is almost meal
cuablo.