46 THROUGH THE BRAZILIAN WILDERNESS 



mony in connection with public functions than with us, 

 and at these functions the liveried servants, often with 

 knee-breeches and powdered hair, are like those seen at 

 similar European functions; there is not the democratic 

 simplicity which better suits our own habits of life and 

 ways of thought. But the South Americans often surpass 

 us, not merely in pomp and ceremony but in what is of 

 real importance, courtesy; in civility and courtesy we can 

 well afford to take lessons from them. 



We first visited the barracks, saw the troops in the 

 setting-up exercises, and inspected the arms, the artillery, 

 the equipment. There was a German lieutenant with the 

 Paraguayan officers; one of several German officers who 

 are now engaged in helping the Paraguayans with their 

 army. The equipments and arms were in good condition; 

 the enlisted men evidently offered fine material; and the 

 officers were doing hard work. It is worth while for anti- 

 militarists to ponder the fact that in every South Ameri- 

 can country where a really efficient army is developed, 

 the increase in military efficiency goes hand in hand with a 

 decrease in lawlessness and disorder, and a growing reluc- 

 tance to settle internal disagreements by violence. They 

 are introducing universal military service in Paraguay; the 

 officers, many of whom have studied abroad, are grow- 

 ing to feel an increased esprit de corps, an increased pride in 

 the army, and therefore a desire to see the army made the 

 servant of the nation as a whole and not the tool of any 

 faction or individual. If these feelings grow strong enough 

 they will be powerful factors in giving Paraguay what she 

 most needs, freedom from revolutionary disturbance and 

 therefore the chance to achieve the material prosperity 



