CHAPTER VIII.

BRAZIL AND VENEZUELA.

The Beautiful Biddings of the Two South American Republics— Brazil Has One of the Most Attractive
Pavilions on the Grounds— Coffee Served Free to Thousands Daily — Venezuelans Do Their Level
Best with Coffee and Beans— They Show Many Swords and Other Trophies of General Simon
Bolivar.

of the most pretentious and one of the most beautful
of all the foreign structures is Brazil's handsome building,
which stands across the lagoon east of that of the State of
Illinois. It is built after the French renaissance style of
architecture. It is covered with delicate detail work. The
large dome is surrounded by four smaller ones and the
walls of the building are covered with sculptured work in
staff. On the outer walls of the building are twenty me-
dallions, each of which bears the name of one of the
twenty states which comprise the Brazilian republic. The
upper panes of the large windows are of stained glass and
the interior woodwork is most artistic. The entire first floor is devoted to coffee.
Every kind of coffee from the cheapest to the highest in price is on exhibition.
There are half a dozen large stands covered with the glass jars holding the berries.
In the rear portion of the room a large plantation in St. Paulo serve cups of its best
coffee free to all visitors to the South American building who indulge in the bever-
age. Rio Janeiro and Minas Zereas also have large displays in this department.
The entire second floor, which is reached by a broad stairway, is given up to recep-
tion-rooms and parlors. In the large reception-room is an extensive collection of
paintings by the famous artists of Brazil. The entire floor is carpeted and furnished
with luxurious chairs and lounges, while in the eastern portion of the floor private
apartments are furnished for men and women. The officers of the commission are
also located on this floor. Four spiral stairways run from the main reception-room
to the roof, which is the feature of the Brazilian building. On the roof are settees
and benches. Palms are placed about the eaves, and visitors are always welcome
to climb the steep stairway of iron and enjoy the view from the Brazilian summer
garden.

The Venezuela building is an extremely pretty bit of architecture, a delicate
gray in color, relieved with green and gilt. The main portion of the structure, the
front of which is ornamented with rows of square fluted columns, is flanked by a
wing on either side, the dome-shaped roofs of which are surmounted by two bronze

544

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

statues, one of Columbus, the other of General Bolivar, the liberator of the South
American Latin republics. They are both from the studio of Sig. Turini, an Italian
sculptor, who at present resides on Staten Island. And the sculptor has every rea-
son to felicitate himself upon the merit of his work. Both figures are admirable
pieces of work, instinct with dignity and vitality. Sig. Turini's Columbus particu-
larly merits attention, as it has been pronounced by many good judges to be one of
the most satisfactory statues of the great admiral which has been exhibited in con-
nection with the Columbian exposition. Certainly it seems to almost defy criticism.
The pose is spirited, the face strong and characteristic, and from whichever side it
is viewed, it gives the impression of a powerful, well-balanced figure.

' BRAZIL BUILDING.

The main part of the interior of the building is given up to the uses of a
reception room. It is handsomely decorated, and the walls are hung with some
really superb paintings. Venezuela was unable on account of its revolution to secure
space in the Art building, consequently it was necessary to hang such paintings as
the republic wished to exhibit in its own building. Arturo Michelena and Christo-
bal Rojas have each some beautiful specimens of work. The " Fight of the Ama-
zons" of the former, and the " Purgatory'1 of the latter are each wonderful paint-
ings, and it is a pity that they as well as some of the others could not have been
hung in the gallery where they would have appeared to better advantage. The
principal part of the exhibit is made up of natural products, coffee and cocoa being

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

545

the staples. There are also rich displays of minerals, some beautiful woods, and a
variety of textile fibers in the raw state.

When it comes to beans, Venezuela appears to lead the world. There are
shelf after shelf of beans of all shapes, sizes and colors; enough in quantity to feed
an army, and diverse enough in kind to suit the most whimsical or exacting taste.
Venezuela isn't far behind in the matter of snakes, either. The dignified
commissioners do not waste their time swapping snake stories, but on the wall of
one of the side rooms are hung a snake skin or two that measure something like
twenty-five feet in length and are big enough to completely envelop a man. The
visitor may just go in and look at them and then go out and sit on the doorstep

and tell himself or his
friend any kind of a
story he wants to fit the
skins. But the trophies
in whjch the Venezue-
lans take the most pride
are those which have a
historical interest, and
hanging on the wall are
the gorgeous standard
of Pizarro and the bul-
lion-crusted saddle-
cloth of Gen. Bolivar.
These are regarded as
almost sacred, as is also
the sword of the gen-
eral, which is kept in
the safe. This weapon
is set with 1,380 dia-
monds and is generally
acknowledged to be one
of the most magnificent
specimens of jeweler's
work in the way of weapons extant. There is another object which the gentle-
men from Venezuela cherish with particular pride and care. It is a medalion
painting of Washington, the gift of the revolutionary hero to the liberator of Ven-
ezuela, Gen. Bolivar.

Many of the articles on exhibition show not only the love of liberty, which
is the birthright of the Latin American republics, but also a strong and friendly tie
which binds the great republic of North America to its southern sisters. It is not
generally known, but in Central Park, New York, there stands a statue of Gen.
Bolivar, while in the Venezuelan capitol is a corresponding one of George Wash-
ington.

VENEZUELA BUILDING.

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

547