German Enterprise in Bio. 133 



£700). The objects of the association are the advance of money, 

 pensions, payment of passage-money for transport, assistance 

 to unemployed or sick German workmen, education of orphan 

 children, and so forth. The German choral union had given a 

 concert in aid of this humane society, which alone had realized 

 3100 milreis (above £300)1 



It is not alone, however, as merchants, engineers, and arti- 

 zans, that the Germans in Rio occupy a conspicuous position ; 

 they likewise contribute their mite to the advancement of 

 art and science. For example, the most important literary 

 enterprise in the empire is in German hands, viz. the printing 

 and bookselling business of the brothers Laemmert. Their 

 publications embrace two hundred and fifty works, chiefly of 

 Portuguese (not Brazilian) authors, original or translated, 

 treating of Brazilian legislation, history, medicine, public in- 

 struction, poetry, popular literature, works on religion, novels, 

 romances, kalendars, and theatrical pieces. One publication 

 due to the founder of the firm, Mr. C. Laemmert, a Bavarian 

 by birth, has already proved of immense utility, the " Almanak 

 administrativo, mercantiU e industrial,'^ compiled by himself, 

 first published in the year 1843. From a most defective little 

 pamphlet at its start, this periodical publication has, in the 

 course of time, become developed into an elegant, simply-classi- 

 fied octavo volume, 1400 pages thick, which, compiled carefully 

 and kept constantly corrected to the latest moment, despite the 

 most disheartening material difficulties, gives a very interesting 

 insight into the entire internal organization of the empire, and 



