The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-11-13
A LETTER FROM SOUTH AMERICA
Rua Viscondc dc Rio Branches 277,
Recife, pornombuco, Brazil

Recife, pornombuco, Brazil
September ~. 1919
To the Editor of The Citizen:
The first Of June, Mrs. Davidson,
the hoy and I returned from
1900 mile trip to Montevideo and
Buenos Aires. attending the second
continental conference Of Associa-
ton workers, in a quiet resort,
some five hours ride by train, up
the coast from Montevidco. and fol-
lowing, the continental convention
in Buenos Aires. We were able TO Sc
cure an English ship direct TO Mon
tevidco with one stop at Rio and
another at the great coffee export
center Of Santos, but on our return
we were by no means so fortunate.
fBuenos Aires was in the midst OF
the long port strike which for
months had tied up scores OF ships,
while on shore, warehouses over
flowing and temporary shelters full
Of products long waiting shipment,
testified 10 the losses suffered by the
city and by both importers and ex-
porters. Bucnos Aires is a city OF
about a million and half popula-
ton, very cosmopolitan in its make
up, and a very active center OF trade.
II is the ono great city Of Argen-
tina. Brazilians love 10 call il the
overgrown head Of an atrophied
body. for Brazil, much as il glories
in its beautiful capital city OF Rio
de Janeiro with its million inhabit-
ants can point with pride TO a
score OF other cities, each the GEN.
ter OF trade and influence Of vas,
region. Take away Rio and the ma
tional life would 60 on undisturbed.
But eliminate Buenos Aires and
you virtually strike the Argentine
Republic from the map. II Is for
reasons like this that one marvels at
the dense stupidity Of North Ameri-
can friends who pass by over half
the continent OF South America,
with its vast resources waiting for
eign capital, with its products per-
ishing for lack OF transportation
from IFS numerous port cities, with
its immense undeveloped territor-
les. roughly comprised in what is
known as North Brazil, they pass
serenely by, 10 deal with cosmo-
politan Buenos Aires. As a conse-
quence all South America is in
terpreted in terms Of the Argentine.
A few know Uruguay and Chile,
while a daring half dozen have PEN
etrated ito Rio de Janeirol We
speak a doing business with South
America" OF commercial, social, ed
vocational. religious conditions in
south America" We seek TO find
out what rSouth America" may
mean TO us, as tho this were the
name Of one homogeneous nation,
whereas Brazil is as different from
Chile or Argentine as Spain is from
Italy, or Denmark from Germany.
The language, the customs. the
ideals, the fundamental basic quail
tiles are absolutely different. You
don't talk Of Europe as tho IL were
one country. Neither can YOU OF
South America. But after all the talk
and agitation, little seems 10 have
been done toward informing the
States Of condition, Of opportunities,
Of duties TO perform, in Brazil. Uru-
quay. in the other southern nations.
Take Brazil, for instance: Reading
the last number Of the Literary Di-
gest, in its commercial section IL
the table Of exchange for foreign
money. The milreis, Brazil's unit.
is not there, and yet il is the mon
etary standard OF half a continent.
DO people realize that two-thirds OF
the area Of Bra ii constituting The
largest region undeveloped, unopen-
ed, to modern life, in the world. lies
north Of Rio de Janeiro, the future
Of the continent? And yet ener-
getic investigators and travellers
hurry by TO get to Rio and on TO
Buenos Aires.
Returning after visits 10 eleven
steamship Offices. passage was Sc
cured on an Italian ship, TO Santos,
and from thai port we reached our
northern city by strange and oh
scure maneuvers. The first Of March
we expect 10 start on our ship home
ward, leaving behind us the palm
fringed sands OF the land OF great
opportunities, TO those who have
eyes and see. This year has been
hard one. Apparently we have
felt the war more after its close
than during the progress Of fighting.
Last October, nearly year ago, in
fluenza closed up the city for n
month. Then in January a mis-
guided Federal Food Commission,
which did everything except make
things easier, placed an embargo,
and our commerce in cotton and