The hotel is filled with large Brazilian families, some from the city of São Paulo, others from the great coffee plantations farther interior. They are typical wealthy Brazilians. Some have been sent by their doctors for sea-bathing. The number of baths is prescribed, and taken literally and seriously at six o’clock in the morning. Some have come for gaiety, relief from the monotony of life on a plantation. Some from São Paulo were “monarchists,” do not like the new republic, go to Paris where the Brazilian Princess holds a little court, and bring back French clothes which may enable you to take to New York some fashions in advance from the remote suburb of Santos! A good quartet plays for dancing in the hotel _sala_ (parlor) every night, especially Sundays. The Casino is the next building, and a wail goes up because the state government, in what is considered an excess of virtue, has sent soldiers to prevent gambling there. All the ladies speak French fluently and their piano-playing is brilliant. They use the time which we bestow upon “an all-round education” upon these accomplishments, and marry by the time they are sixteen. Some time they will go to Paris. Now they are over-run by their many little children, and usually look older than they really are. You are puzzled to know who belongs to whom. The wife of Senhor de Couto is Dona Margarida. The mother of Senhor Antonio Prado is Dona Veridiana. The wife of the nation’s president, Campos Salles, is Dona Anna Gabriella. They might all be members of a royal family, or belong to the time of the patriarchs, so far as their use of names goes. When the narrow gauge train brings the papas at night to the front of the hotel there is pleasant excitement. The sons kiss the hands of their fathers respectfully. You will select the lawyers and doctors by the distinctive gem each wears in his ring, diamond or emerald. The barons are mostly owners of coffee plantations, and the many commissarios are the coffee factors who often advance much money “up country” to perfect and bring down the coffee to the port. You meet them all easily on the verandas or in the park which borders the beach. The park itself deserves your interest; for the neighboring forests have yielded their palms, aloes and dragon’s blood to beautify it, and the little summer houses are thatched with blossoming air-plants all pink and green.