New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-24
Mar del Plata Bueno the Atlantic
and

Chileans and the Peruvans, are inveterato
gamblers. La Razon estimated that in the
year 1919 the huge sum of 176 million pesos
ST., 440 0O0-was wagered in the republic
on horse races, in lotteries, at roulette and
in other licensed public gambling devices.
For population of 100000 people this
is going some.
The progressive city of Sac Paulo, in
Brazil, is taking step in the right direction
by the construction, IN time for the Brazil
ian Centennial next year, of casino and
hotel with a great swimming pool for which
sea water will be brought up 1900 feet
from Santos through a tube 40 miles long,
furnishing 1,177 cubic yards an hour. 1t
is estimated that the total cost of this es-
tablshment will be 1880 contos of refs,
of which 1900 contos will be spent on the
canalzation of the sea water. One conto of
refs at the present time is worth less than S110,
but the estimate of cost was probably made at
much higher rate of exchange and these
works likely to cost $4,000, 900, a consid-
cradle outlay for a city of half a million inhab-
itants. The hotel might be expected to
pay for itself, but the sea baths, if made
available for ali classes of the people, could
scarcely be self-supporting. However, the
contractors asked for concession of thirty
years, exemption from duties, and other
privileges. There is a world of hidden mean
ing in the words "casino" and "other priv
leges," and one is thereby led to hope that
the Paulistas may be permitted to enjoy
the pleasures of sea bathing at the expense
of those who will frequent the green cloth
covered tables within the walls of the Casino,
just as the good citizens of Monaco disport
themselves in their way in blissful
ignorance of the nature of an income tax.
Santos the principal seaport of Sac Paulo,
is provided with bathing facilities within
easy distance of the city by trolley car The
attendance is good in the early morning
and on holidays, but at no time is there
any real popular exodus to the seashore
as there inducements for holiday
makers except the ocean and few restau-
rants.
But the glory of Santos is Guaruja This
little place, situated on the exposed shore Of
big island, one side of which forms the east
erly limit of Santos harpor is composed
entirely of villas owned by the rich people
of the capital. There is small Ritz Carlton
hotel and casino where high play may be
seen in the season. The surroundings are
enchantingly beautiful, and the beach is vel:
adapted to bathing, but, with the exception of
some men who spend their summers at the
place because they have to go to business
in Santos every day, and damsels ar
rayed in the latest fashions of Dieppe and
Atlantic City, who have been ordered by their
doctors to take dips in the of many
minutes duration for so many days, the
people who cross the sands from the prom
enade to the waters edge are few indeed.
Guaruja IS at its best late in the evening,
when the brilliant crowd, mostly dressed IN
white linen, walk under the stars and the
electric light and enjoy the perfumed airs
of the sea and forest while the band plays
the strains of the latest comic opera
To get from Santos to Guaruja you take
a gasoline launch from the Custom House,
and, having crossed the harbor. miniature
train which pulls you slowly through the for
est across the island to the door of the hotel
facing the Atlantic.
Perhaps it will be gathered from the fore
going that roulette provides the incentive to
visit South American seaside resort. After
all, one cannot remain in the sea all dav long.
and away from home lack of amusement or
work means boredom. The writer we'll knows
that to chronicle the doings of the seaside
of happy crowd of the working classes
would make better story than to tell Of
the vapid pursuit of excitement by the we'll
to do.
But the poor of South America do not
make much use of the sea for their pleasure.
What do they do? | don't know, but have
noticed that they often utilize a guitar.
1t is generally spring time in South Amer
lca--or so at least the lovely climate wonl.l
load
the young mars fancy lightly turns to
thoughts of love-" For him the purlieus OF
the city are Paradise enow.'