Evening star., 1922-09-10

miles, pushing it in front of you.
The only reason ] believe it can he
done is because I've seen ii: and if the
men of Rio can do it, SO can you.
DUT do not think that Rio does not
- know all about manual labor-sav-
ing devices. Come with me to the
National Library. one of the most
impressive and modern buildings in
all America. You will sit at an all
steel individual desk-made in the
United States. Your order for books
will be sent through vacuum
chutes-made in the United States.
The books will be taken from all
steel shelves-from the United
States-and brought to you in a mod
ern book carrier of steel-likewise
from the United States. And please
90 not leave before in the afternoon,
for about that hour you will be
brought face to face with another
labor saving device-this one all Bra
lillian. Fairies. or something very
akin to them, will set down before
| you cup of Brazilian coffee and a
plate of Brazilian cakes, Your work
can 60 on uninterrupted while you
| sip the nectar of the Brazilian gods
Mr.. Manoel Cicero Peregrino da
Silva. director of the National Library.
is the father of this and many other
ingenious and pleasing innovations.
| Since 1912 he has thrown open the
| lecture hall of the library to native
| and foreign speakers. men and
| charged, and with small rental
when tickets are sold. Political and
religious subjects only are barred.
At the left of the speakers platform
stands the bronze bust of Ruy Bar
bosa. Brazils CASTELAR,, to inspire the
would-be orator. The yearly publi-
cation OF the annals of the library
in large illustrated volumes. includ-
ing complete bibliographies and re-
prints Of rare manuscripts, is another
of the priceless traditions of the in
stitution. due to the wisdom of this
| cultured patriarch. whose achieve
ments in the intellectual life OF Bra
zil can be described only in enthusi-
astic superlatives.
Just around the corner from the
National Library is A Misericordia, a
public hospital, where modern install
lations vie with memories of it's
founder. the old emperor. to attract
the visitors interest. 1t was with
the money he received from selling
titles Of nobility. decorations and
honors that the wise ruler built IT.
Truly. he must have had a well devel-
oped sense of humor to have caused
to be written above the door, where
ou may see them today, these words:
Mems pride shall minister to mems
woe" The women of the Anglo
American Church of Rio carry sun
shine and candy and cake and flowers
every Thursday afternoon to the
thirty or fifty English and American
sailor boys who are always to be
found in the foreign ward of A Mis-
ericordia.
Among the scores of architecturally
beautiful and modern buildings of
Rio the Maua Office block, which
houses many American firms: the
Municipal Theater. Guanabara Pal
ace and the Monroe building are COM
parable with those of any metropolis
in the world.
MOHTOo didCC. sloTc , tHTo" II ON
the library on Rio Branco avenue,
and the first building to be sighted
by ships entering the harbor, is so
named because Brazilians have
always been hearty supporters of the
Monroe doctrine. 1t was brought
from the st. Louis worlds fair,
where 1t was known as the Brazilian
building. and has become the home of
the Brazilian senate.
Near this building Is being erected
the statute of Friendship, to be pre-
sented by the United States of
America to Brazil on the occasion
Of Brazirs first centennial of inde-
pendence. Somewhat farther out on
the shore of Guanabara bay than the
Monroe Palace the statue of Friend
ship will be the first monument to
greet visitors to Rio. that strange
intermixture of modern municipal
beauty. mellowed antiquity and exotic
| charm, to me one of the most fasci-
mating ensembles among the worlds
cities.
Copyright. 1872. by Faith Hunter podse.)