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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[June i, 1910. 



black cigar with a gorgeous band on it, and underneath the 

 band a revenue stamp, which every cigar in the Brazils is 

 ■bliged to wear. 



AT THE GOVERNOR'S PALACE. 



A friend had suggested, almost as soon as I landed, the 

 advisability of visiting the Governor and, when I agreed, 

 promptly arranged for an audience. But I was in flannels 

 and my frock coat had been carried off, I knew not whither, 

 to be pressed. The Yankee Consul, however, stopped into 

 the breach and, communicating to the Governor my predica- 

 ment, the audience was set for the day following. To learn 

 all of the details I meandered over to the consulate, where 

 the Consul greeted me like a long-lost brother. If I had 

 come from Ohio, his native State, I believe he would have 

 embraced me. A husky, warm-hearted, quick-tempered, 

 bustling Westerner, he won my heart then and there, and 

 when he came around next morning in a taxicab with a 

 visiting rubber manufacturer from the States and a leading 

 Brazilian rubber merchant, I was glad I was ready. 



A frock coat and a top hat are not the most comfortable 

 things in the tropics, but we all wore them. And as the 

 other three were stout and I am not, my collar didn't wilt 

 until the audience was over, which is more than they can 

 say for themselves. The Governor received us on a sort of 

 divan flanked by four chairs, which we occupied. He was 

 good enough when we were seated to remark that in his last 

 message he had quoted from The India Rubber World. 

 I replied that as there was no international copyright, I was 

 powerless to protect myself from such cases. I told him 

 further that the rubber manufacturers in the United States 

 knew of him and would be more than glad to have him call and 

 see them. Then we talked about rubber planting, in which he 

 is very much interested, and he said that the State was 



willing to do anything in reason to encourage planting cor- 

 porations. 



The Yankee Consul meanwhile was getting restive because 

 the Visiting Manufacturer was not receiving more attention, 

 and said in liquid Portuguese: 



"My friend on the right is one of the largest manufacturers 

 of rubber in the world. He uses only Para rubber, and his 

 factory is in Ohier." 



If he had said "Erhio" or "Oheeo" I think the Governor 

 would have understood that he was referring to the Mother 

 of Presidents. But as it was he only looked blank and mur- 

 mured a compliment, while the Visiting Manufacturer's eyes 

 twinkled as he thought of his last year's bill for reclaimed 

 rubber. 



It is difficult for a democratic American to know how to 

 address high foreign officials. The Visiting Manufacturer 

 called the Governor "Monsieur the Signor," which sounded 

 bully. I couldn't catch the Portuguese rendering of the title, 

 but turned into English it reads "Mister the Mister," which, 

 although respectful, is slightly tautological. 



It wasn't really a heart-to-heart talk as the Governor knew 

 no English and we knew no Portuguese, and I think his 

 Excellency was glad when it was all over. Not that he 

 showed it in any way. He was every moment the courteous, 

 polished, dignified gentleman, and the next day sent his 

 aide de camp around to my hotel to return the call, and, 

 before I left the city, sent me a score of beautifully illustrated 

 books and some marvelous maps for souvenirs of my visit. 

 His word also placed everything in the beautiful public li- 

 brary at my disposal. 



THE MAYOR ALSO VISITED. 



We also made a formal call on the Intendente (mayor). 

 According to his enemies, he is another Richard Croker. He 

 received us at 8 o'clock in the morning at his home, a fine big 



The river Amazon, proper, does not admit of approach by sea vessels, on of Mara jo, with an extent of 18,000 square miles. Marajo ind the other 

 account of the shoals shown by the chart. Ocean vessels enter, xherefore, islands shown are the source of "Islands*' Para rubber. The city of Para 

 by what are known as Para river and the Para estuary, rounding the island is called in Brazil "Belem." 



