Evening star., 1928-12-22
RIO MAGN|F|CENCE
.ENTHRALLS HOOVER
Natural Beauty of Brazilian
Capitals Pert Called Won
der of World.
BY WILL IRWIN.
BY Gable to The Star and the North Ameri-
can Newspaper Alliance.

can Newspaper hlllanCe.
RIO DE JANEIRO, December "a
AS one of the official members OF the
uarty accompanying President elect
Hoover on his goodwill visit remarked
this morning when the Brazilian noun
tains were Just coming into view out
of the mists: Every poet on his vaca-
ton comes to Rio and describes the
harbor."
1t is one of the seven wonders OF
the modern world. Every one OF us
had been looking forward to 1t as tne
climax of beauty on this tour. NOT
was noticed that as the Utah steamed
in between the Sugar Loaf and the
saluting forts Mr.. Hoover suddenly LETT
the rest of the party on the quarter
deck and climbed up to the bridge, as
though wishing to be alone In viewing
this lovelineSs.
The morning was misty, with low
clouds hanging over the mountains, ana
we were not quite aware of the harbor
until we were fairly in its mouth-then
the harbor burst upon our view all
at once. To the left rose the famous
Sugar Loaf, whose name describes 1t.
It is a rounded peak, unscalable by
unassisted human feet. Behind the
Sugar Loaf lay the Hunchback, q
pointed peak, whose tip was turned
sidewise in apparent defiance OF the
laws of gravity.
And these are but mere incidents in
a range Of precipitous and needle-like
peaks, bedded in green, shaded with
subtle blue mists, which look as though
Maxfleld Parrish had drawn them in
one of his most imaginative moments.
I was prepared for limitleSs beauty
of green hills, blue waters and palms.
but not for this breath-taking touch OF
phantasy.
Fantastic Scenery.
The harbor at its mouth opens
scarcely wider than the Golden Gate.
To the Utah's left, as it entered. lay a
range of hills lower than those on the
other side, but of the same fantastic
mold. At their foot lay an old cream
colored, many-storied fort, which was
blazing a noisy welcome from It's gun
ports. An infertile island, just rock,
which lay like tortoise inside the en-
trance, took up the fun.
Now the Utah had come IN sight OF
the city, and still we were seeing the
phantaSy, with its rises and dips over
abrupt hills and the blue mountains
back of it like a wall. One promontory
pushing out into the water seemed all
one great structure of clammy walls,
romantic balconies and red tiled roofs.
From the valleys between the hills rose
Moorish spires and ornamented steepleS,
and over all the lower structures
reigned tall umbrella shaped palms.
A good part Of the Brazilian navy
lay moored of the docks-its mast
trimmed with nags, its rails lined with
white uniforms. A battleship, lying
across our path, bgean saluting. 1t
was taken up by a line OF eight de-
Stroyers.
Further on, Rios harbor seemed to
fade into an infinity of blue mists, as
though there were no end either to it
or to the shipping which lined its
shores. And all along that line were
distant echoes and puffs Of saluting
guns.
Cheering in English.
Finally, as we passed the destroyers.
the crews lined up along the rails gave
us successfully three cheers in English
There was also a mosquito fleet OF
little sailing vessels, rigged with that
lateen sail, which bellows to the shape
of horses ear when the wind fills
it. These little vessels seemed to be
skipping and gamboling with JOY over
all the intervening waters.
I will not say that this was the
warmest welcome which Mr.. Hoover
has received in South America, but II
was at least the most picturesque.
Admirably and touchingly was the well
come Of President Washington Luis and
his suite.
For once in this odyssey of an Ameri-
EraefAaftf -aloNf conditions WATe
such that our vessel could moor itself
beside a wharf. From the pretty stuccc
custom house marquee, with a carpet
ed and sandy floor, ran down to the
edge of the wharf. The Brazilian Presi-
dent and his suite waited at atten.
ton until Mr.. Hoover diSembarked
Then President Luis advanced and the
two parties met midway, the awnings
casting pink and purple shades ovel
them. with the manned rails Of the
/ Utah rising above them and with q
crack company of lancers in red tunic:
and plumes falling into line to leae
| the visitors into Rio.
Nor must I forget to add that the
| first and most conspicuous building ir
! sight as Mr.. Hoover took his car wa:
| the skeleton of a 22-story skyscrapel
the future home of the newspaper
| A Noite-from which bellied to tht
wind what / am informed is the sec.
ond largest American flag in the world
Rotary in Brazil.
At the big diplomatic functions anc
banquets given to the party Of Presi.
| dent-elect Hoover on the West Coast ci
South America began to notice, among
the glittering decorations on the chest:
Of the generals and diplomats, the
prevalence of an order depending from
a lemon-yelloW ribbon. with a media
whose shape seemed somehow familiar
Finally I sided up to q general fol
a closer look It was the embelm Of
the Rotary Club. They wear it here a:
a decoration. Later I was discussing
questions of copyright with a learned
and eminent professor.
Sometime ago." he said, "the painters
and novelists of our Rotary Clubs tool
a stand for a modern law"
Later, another South American