The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-09-21


GIRO by a British boat, and spent a
few days in London before sailed.
1t was while in London that I first
! heard of the Republic of Kunani
which had it's headquarters in a city
! office in the British capital. But at
| that time paid little attention to the
scheme, which seemed to me quite
| mad one.
b However, on the boat I met an
| American, who was also a f1nancier,
| and who was on his way to Brazil to
| grab land, who told me quite a. lot
| about this little republic and it's crazy
| president. This American even knew
| the name of the president Of Kunani.
| You have heard of the Frenchman,
| jacques Lebeudy, who wished to be
a king, and there not being a vacant
throne for him in the civilized world,
| he went and set up little kingdom
| of his own in the Sahara desert.
This is the way it all happened.
| There was rich Brazilian named
| Don Presidio Lopez. who wished to
| be president, and therefore set up
a separate republic Of his own, in
! the most inaccessible part of all Bra
| iii. He had spent his money in
building a railway, which ran from
| nowhere to nowhere, laying SO miles
| of rails on which no train ever ran.
| He had established little settlement,
with band of Adventures of all ma
| tionalities as mad and crazy as him
self, and they ran their republic free
| from all interruption in the very
| heart of the Amazonian forests. His
cabinet, I learned was composed Of
men who would never dare to return
| to their native lands unless they did
-,e,kx Pv,e-
I'll people knew about this Republic
| Madmens Land" A terrible curl
osity seized me to see this strange
! republic and meet its mad president
and his cabinet of adventures.
One day, after a conference in the
| office of our consul in Rio de Janeiro,
1 had occasion to meet a young Ger
man who was born in America. In a
| Joking way inquired of him about
| this mysterious Republic of Kunani,
and was pleasingly surprised to learn
| there was no mystery about this state.
| He told me that the president Of
Kunani was in Rio de Janeiro, broke,
and greatly in need of funds to pay
| off the salaries of his cabinet. He
had been entrusted by his cabinet
/ members to bring to Rio de Janeiro
| consignment of gold and diamonds
/ which he had sold to the Brazilian
treasury and realized 100000 franks;
later he went to an exclusive gam
| bling place and lost every mark Of it.
He was in such dire circumstances
that he was compelled to vacate his
spacious rooms at hotel and was
now staying at third class house in
| the Bohemian section of the city.
Z r 4 ro<es 1sv,,c q n rxya he
now daily visiting the Offices Of the
Brazilian national lottery, where he
expected to win a lucky number. OF
course, Lopez could not return to his
republic without a cent in his pocket.
For days 7 frequented the Rio de
Janeiro state lottery offices, as was
informed by our consul that certain
people, wished to meet would be
found at these establishments Mean
while, I was in search of Preside Lo-
PEI.
After many days without progress
in any of my special assignments, one
day, by a singular streak of fortune,
met Lopez. I made his acquaintance
in a very strange fashion.
in Rio they draw every day a, state
lottery, and on Sundays they double
the prizes. and after the morning
4
One may win 10000 marks on, any
Sunday with a lucky ticket. and 3d.
600 marks Jon ordinary days. One
good thing with these establishments /
is that while they satisfy everyone's |
gambling instinct, 4 it can never ruin |
anyone.
Before the list of winning numbers, |
which was posted on the door of the I
establishment where the lotteries |
were being conducted. 1 met Preside |
Lopez, who was scanning the list at |
the same tine as I.
He was a tall, thin man, with gray
hair, and AR of distinction, one could
see at glance that he was somebody
I had finished looking for my num-
Der in the list wnen he came along.
and by his ordinations of excitement
informed me that he had secured one
of the first prizes Of 10000 marks.
Holy St. Paul and Peter" he
cried In his emotion, and went on to
VOW to the saints candles, as a mark
of gratitude for the favors bestowed
upon him.
He rushed to the interior of the
lottery office and kissed everyone he
met, danced around and again left
the hall to once more examine his
ticket number. I think he feared
that he might be mistaken. But he
was right, he was the lucky winner.
! I was still watching him, having sta
toned myself at the entrance of the
hall. Then, in his excitement he
turned to me, and vehemently ex-
planned the good fortune which had
overtaken him. Just when I wanted
some money for my republic
The phrase struck me, for Kunani
was in my mind, and I did not sup
pose there could be two republics so
hard up for money that their presi-
dents had need to buy lottery tickets
to assist the state finances:
Here was my chance. I entered
into conversation with the lucky
ticket holder, who was beaming with
happiness. and could not resist my
sympathy and warm congratulations
In 10 minutes Twas In possession of
hisc ard and along with it his heart
and had accepted an invitation to
dine with him at the obscure motel in
which he was but lately driven to
stay.
should mention here that my as
signed mission had no connection
with the affairs Of the Republic of
Kunani or the person of its Preside;
to me this was little recreation, a