Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-01
GIVES VIVID PICTURE
Of BRAZIL IN LECTURE
Charles Wellington Furlong, Author
and Traveller, Addresses National
Geographic Society.

In his illustrated lecture on Brazil
the largest state in South America and
the third largest in the world, Charles
er, presented to members of the Nation
al Geogra phic Society. at the New Ma
sonic Auditorium. last night, a vivid
picture of the splendid development of
the principal cities of the wealthy re-
public.
Mr.. Furlong did not attempt to eX-
plore with pictures and description the
vast forests and jupgles Of the Amazon
Brazil typifed in such thriving ports
as Para, the great rubber and coffee
mart: Bahia, Santos. Pernambuco. and
the unriraled capital. Rio de Janeiro.
Many Of the leading United States cit
les might learn a lesson in sanitation
and in the care of their municipal
front doors from the seaports of Bra
iii, declared the speaker. The water
been built under the direction of skilled
engineers, one of the most conspicuous
examples being the quays at Santos,
designed by Cornell engineer.
Rapid Strides by Brazil.
The rapid strides made by Brazil
within the last two decades are shown
in the veritable revolution Of health
conditions, he said. Some of the ports
formerly were breeding places for yell
low fever and other epidemic disea ses,
and the lecturer gave as concrete
example the experience of a British
sea captain who some years ago
brought his ship into one of the lead
ing coffee ports. While he was load
ing his vessel his entire crew was
stricken with yellow fever. 1t was
necessary to send to England for an
other crew, and when. after long delay.
this new body of men arrived and be-
gan loading where the first crew had
left off these recruits also were deci-
mated by the dread disease. third
crew was brought from England, and
it's ranks were thinned out by disease
before the vessel finally got under way
with a full cargo.
unknown in this port. and. like all the
other leading cities, IT boasts splendid
j. paved streets, magnificent public
buildings, palatia private homes and
splendid municipal theaters and opera
houses.
Firemen Under Military Rule.
Among the novel features of some Of
the South American cities, Mr.. Furlong
mentioned the fire departments The
f1remen arc stationed in one building,
barracks, and they are under mill
tary discipline, being subject to the
call of the military authorities in case
of riot.
One Of the customs which lend them
selves to amusing illustration is the pop
ular method of ira importation or portage
in most of the southern cities. While
automobiles and mule carts much
! used the human head is siiil the most
popular means of Transporting goods,
ba rrels water jars and milk cans. SO
proficient are the natives in balancing
articles on their heads, said MIR. Fur
! long that they find il easier to poise
| articles in this way than carry them in
! their hands. He related the amusing
: incident OF having given child a
! letter to be posted The boy held it in
! his hand for moment uncertainty. put
! it on his head. but, realizing that the
I wind would blow il away. he suddenly
| stopped down. picked up brick, put the
/ letter on his head. weighted il down
! with the brick. and then trotted off to
I the letter box q block away. The speak
| err also spoke of having seen Two chill
dren playing checkers in the shade.
! The sun rising. their place no
/ longer protected. One of the children
! lifted the board to the top Of her head,
I and the two dashed across the street at
/ full speed to a shady spot, set the board
down again. not single piece having
been jolted from its square.