Evening star., 1942-02-01
American Woman Knows
Brazil as Generous Friend
Mrs. Carl Sylvester
Honored by Country
For Social Work
By JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

Brazil always has been the warm,
generous, whole hearted friend Of
the United States" said Mrs. Carl
Sylvester, wife Of the recently retired
American president of the Tram
ways Light and Power Co., of Rio de
Janeiro. This great public utility
also includes the Brazilian tele-
phone service under its jurisdiction.
First American woman to receive
Brazil's Order of the Southern Cross
for her outstanding contribution to
its social welfare, Mrs. Sylvester
Is in Washington with her husband
for q brief visit. Early in February
she will return to Rio de Janeiro
by plane to further the advancement
Of certain aspects Of social service
work which she inaugurated as a
bride Is years ago. She also will
continue the organization OF first
aid and civilian defense work in the
Anglo-American colony, which she
had started before her husbands re-
tirement and return to his native
land after 80 years of service to
Brazil.
This petite, cosmopolitan woman
made her first trip to Rio de Janeiro
in black-out voyage during World
War I. She was then en- route
there on her honeymoon.
Cites Hid to Allied Cause.
Immediately upon her arrival, in
reality before she had begun house
keeping, she found herself immersed
in all sorts of humanitarian activi-
ties for the Allied cause. How the
money did pour out of Brazil for the
American Red Cross and the Allied
cause during those days." she re-
called. They made our cause theirs
so Fundamentally and so generously
it fairly took my breath away that
there could be such sympathy and
understanding. I shall always feel
tremendously grateful for this as an
American citizen and for the way
in which the Brazilian families took
me, lonely, little American bride,
into their hearts and their homes.
My dearest friends in Rio de Janeiro
today are Brazilians.'
Mrs. Sylvester herself was at that
time the organizer of some 80 fetes
in Rio. the largest of which was
held in the great opera house. The
thrilling moment of this particular
occasion was the unfurling of the
largest United States flag ever dis
played in Brazil. 1t was lent by the
U. S. S. Pittsburgh, then in the
harbor, and the sailors from it un-
furled this great banner to the
singing of the Star Spangled Ban
ner" led by Hackett, the American
tenor, while the entire audience
stood at attention.
She is one of the founders of
Brazil's S. o. S., the literal trans
lation OF whose name means Social
Service Work" The first playground
In Rio also owes it's inception to her
initiative, and many have since fol-
lowed in its wake. With a group of
American women she organized its
Thrift Shop and its Orphanage for
Girls. Rios Juvenile Court Society,
its soup and diet kitchens and its
Shelter for the Destitute, as well
as its Pro Matre, or lying-in hos
pital for women, are other Brazilian
philanthropic institutions whost
need she envisioned and whose or
ganization she made possible. The
case history in Rios Shelter for the
Destitute are now recognized as one
of the most complete and effective
Cvcfnr1C IN, tho Apnnrinoc
Organized Strangers Hospital.
In Rios American colony she was
active in the organization of the
city's Strangers Hospital and the
Women's Auxiliary, which has been
such an effective force in meeting
its expanding needs.
In addition to her philanthropic
activities, which were so numerous
as to require 10 women to take her
place in their motivation when she
returned with her husband to this
country, Mrs. Sylvester was the
president of Brazils Welcoming
Committee to foreign guests and
assisted in receiving the missions
from the United States.
Il cannot possibly tell you" she
said, how responsive the people o.
Brazil are to worthwhile, new ideas,
or how quickly they assimilate and
adapt the best there is in them to
their own specific needs. The young
er Brazilian women are outstanding
in their social service activities and
interest in philanthropic causes
They have their equivalent of the
Junior League in their Requena
Crusada, which means Little Cru
sade This was organized by Nine.
Epitacio Pesoa, the wife of a for
mer President of Brazil