The mirror., 1920-01-15
BRAZIL


W@[RAZIL is of special interest to the
Hq8MDH United States these days. 1t is in
NYN(W@H the air that America and Brazil
lEN are to become better acquainted be-
fore reconstruction days are over. And if
for no other reason Brazil is interesting to us
because it is, like the United States, melt
ing pot of the nations.
When President Elect Epitacio Pessoa
was here recently he said, in public ad-
dress:
Having in mind the close relations
which have always existed between our two
countries it is not surprising that the en-
trance of the United States in the great
European conflict should have had de-
cisive influence on BraziPs procedure. To
the precious title of friend, uniting our des-
TIMES and claiming our share of effort and
sacrifice, we added that of all lly-allied to the
nation which has just furnished to history
the most brilliant examples of ability and
force.
"Now that the monstrous scourge has
disappeared from the face of the civilized
world, and nations, impelled by accumulated
energy in the making up of lost time, are to
resume their old life of peace and toll, Brazil
will rejoice in continuing to develop more
and more the relations of every kind which
bind her to the United States, and to strive
for this end will be one of the fondest en-
deavors of my government"
1t is thus of particular Importance that
the United States endeavor to understand
the conditions of life in this vast melting pot
of the nations. The melting pot of Brazil is
not Just like ours. 1t seems however, to be
quite as complicated boiling. The racial
diversity in Brazilian society is as pro-
nounced as is the variety of its geographical
groups. A study of the home life is study
in ethnology. The original Portuguese
stock is found in all phases of transition from
unadulterated purity through partial and
complete mixtures with native Indian and
negro and fusion with foreign nations -ltal-
ian, German, English, Spanish and Ameri-
can. The Brazil of today is melting pot
of races and nationalities as heterogeneous as
it is distracting to the chance traveller, says
Clayton S. Cooper in New York Sun.
On beginning to ask questions one finds
himself entangled in an intricate maze of
fusions between Portuguese and Brazilian
Portuguese, foreigners and Brazilian for
eigners, Brazilians who are Brazilians and
Brazilians who are ethnologically cabocios
or mestizos, or setaos; or Brazilians who
locally or historically are Paulistas, German
Brazilians, Dutch Brazilians, pure-blooded
Indians, or sons and daughters of half a
dozen foreign races or nations, who are
Brazilians because they were born in Brazil.
The visitor freshly landed and plunged
suddenly into this diverting congeries of hui
man, national and racial amalgamation, is
inclined to sympathize with the probable en-
lightenment of Colonel Roosevelt, who is re-
ported to have inquired of a sea captain con-
corning the population of certain West In
dian island, when the old sea dog replied:
"Well, there are some Spanish, few
French, some Portugese, few Dutchmen
and dozen other races the Lord didn't in
tend"
The amazing wonder of all Especially
to a North American less familiar with
European races and holding decided views
concerning color lines, etc.), is the manner
in which this country is slowly and apparent
ly with harmony and democratic social
and racial relations, evolving distinct
Brazilian type. The salient characteristics
of what is becoming to be known as the true
Brazilian character include the aristocratic
culture and high intelligence of the old fam
ily Portuguese stock, at once Latin and
Moorish by inheritance, the exaltation, dar-
ing and passion of vigorous aborigine's
blood, softened by the afectionate, emotional
strain of the African, especially in north
Brazil-the whole shot through with typi-
cal modernity and enterprise that marriage
and general contact with European races
c.-J.J With c,,ch elements the ma