The Lacerda Elevator

T.R.S…
Took us up an elevator from the lower to upper city level. Lots of people of many races and colours on the streets, all clean and tidy, but lazy looking; no snap.

Ashore in Bahia

T.R.S…
Visited Cathedral Santo Francisco, 200 years old. Interior finished with hand-carved cedar arches overlaid with gold leaf. So impressed I forgot I was in a church and failed to remove my hat. A gowned padre reminded me of my bad manners - then eased my blushes with comments about his great church, which is but one of 365 in this city of 300,000.

Drove through residence and business districts along beach past many monuments, parks, and public buildings; then back down long hill to lower level and through city produce market; without doubt the dirtiest, vilest smelling food centre conceivable.

U.S. Health authorities would not permit such a place to exist. Floors littered with spoiled fruit and vegetables. Meats hanging in dried slabs, rubbed by the clothing of passers-by. Acrid odour of sweat, squalor and filth. Soft fish in trays. Live chickens lying with feet tied. Overpowering odour of garlic, onions and rotting cabbage. We got out of there in a hurry.

Took second bath before lunch. Ship got under way at 3pm. Got acquainted with William Butler and family of Philadelphia - he's a member of the syndicate that operated the old Ohio Electric system in Lima. Knew Mac McClure and Gilpin very well and asked to be remembered to Rhea and John Cable.

Ernie Thompson, Los Angeles, executive of large West Coast company, makers of extracts and syrups for soda fountain trade, says his Lima distributor is the Lima - Kenton Wholesale Grocery Company. Mr. Louis B. Blakemore of Cincinnati and Chicago, veteran world traveller, former Grand Master of Grand Masonic Lodge of Ohio, said he has inspected both Amanda and Garrett Wycoff Lodges in Lima.

Met three prominent Brazilians - Conde, a road builder; Borcellus, a mechanical engineer; and Netta, a dealer in heavy machinery, and their attractive wives. All eloquent, despite little knowledge of English.