THE BRAZILIANS 



Pernambuco I was once three days in the company of a peasant- 

 farmer. He reminded me constantly of a knight or fidalgo of old, 

 with his noble features. His manner of expressing himself, and his 

 ideas, were in harmony with the outer man. Each day we ate our 

 lobsters together, and drank our coconut milk, and our farewell, 

 accompanied by the usual Brazilian embrace — the Brazilians lay 

 their arms round one another's shoulders and pat one another on 

 the back — was genuinely cordial. The unspoiled humanity which 

 one so often encounters in Brazil is one reason why one always feels 

 a certain longing to return thither. 



The Brazilian has a great love of liberty ; he will stand no infringe- 

 ment of his rights, neither will he put up with insolence. This is 

 true even of the children. Corporal punishment of children is 

 unheard of, and one can see that it is never administered. There are 

 children in Brazil of incomparable charm and lovableness and 

 grace ; but they are, of course, more serious and precocious than 

 European children. The careless effervescence of youthful energy, 

 the joy in childish games, the confidence of our European children, 

 all of which often survive even in maturity, are much rarer in Brazil. 

 In many respects — for example, in their dramatic talent and their 

 skill in reciting — even the youngest Brazilian children are truly 

 astonishing. Expressive movement is of course natural in a country 

 where speech is so often supported or even replaced by gesture. 

 No Brazilian schoolgirl would recite a poem without appropriate 

 gestures. 



Even the students of the School of Agriculture would suffer no 

 hard words, as a new teacher once learned to his cost, for he came 

 near to ruining the college. There was an army officer on the staff 

 of the college, who had to train the students as reservists during 

 their course. Even he addressed them always in amiable terms, 

 as a comrade; and there was a delightful scene when the students 

 left on the completion of their training ; the flag before which the 

 reservists took the oath of loyalty was held — a characteristic touch — 

 by a beautiful girl. The Brazilians are highly patriotic. The flag is 

 always saluted with uncovered head; all stand when the National 

 Hymn is played, and it may be played only on solemn occasions. 



Another beautiful trait is the family loyalty of the Brazilians. 

 Poor relations are taken into the Brazilian home without hesitation ; 

 reverence is paid to parents, and the young people kiss even an 

 uncle's hand. Young girls are the object of special veneration, and 

 this gives them a more confident and friendly bearing towards the 



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