Portugal by C. E. RENTFRO

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 23, 1908

Portugal

By C. E. RENTFRO

C. E. RENTFRO

The following words of a well-known round have rung in my ears morning after morning as I listen to the cries of our Lisbon city. One might imagine it to be about the noisiest city on earth, providing he had not seen a noisier:—

“Right this way, sir; here’s your carriage to the Adam’s House close by.”

“And here’s your nice sweet oranges, your apples, cakes, and pies.”

“Give me your old clothes,” and, “Here’s your fresh fish.”

“Burlington and Quincy cars,” “Auction,” “Milk below.”

“Mister, black your boots?”

We were living in a corner house, on one side of which ran cable-cars, on the other the electric. The cable runs from about seven o’clock one morning to about one o’clock the next morning. This noise disturbs our rest at night, and is hard on the nerves.

About three o’clock every morning come the street-cleaners, with brooms, shovels, and carts or machine sweepers. At four o’clock pass the carts hauling vegetables to market, to be sold to retailers. About five o’clock come the retailers with their pack burros to buy their supply for selling from house to house, or pass the women with wooden-soled shoes, which are secured only over the toes, the heels going “clack, clack, clack,” over the stone walks.

By six o’clock the sellers are on their return, with produce to sell. And what a noise comes from the throats of persons of both sexes, of all ages, from wee children to old men and women! The cries come from lungs trained and untrained; from husky groans to clear, ringing voices; some with a singing voice, others with a wild scream. A few really make out a tune, either in a minor or major key, mostly minor.

Then a boy may pass, crying out, “Carqueja vinte reis o molho.” This is dry branches of some bush which is used to start fires of coke or charcoal. This makes an open fire in a fogareira or vessel made of clay burned in a kiln. On this are placed the cooking utensils. During the preparations for breakfast, the cook must work with one hand, and fan the fire with the other. By the time the fire is ready, or perhaps before, some one has called out, “Fresh fish!” or, “Here is salt fish!” others, “Herring!”

In the meantime, a wild yell in another direction may warn us that a woman is approaching, with a large clothes-basket, filled with vegetables, upon her head. We ask, “Quanto custam os nabos?” (How much do the turnips cost?) She names a price perhaps twice the value, so we try to get her to come down. This we must do with all dealers here.

The men go with two baskets fastened to a pole, which they balance on their shoulders. They yell out, “Uvas um botaco o kilo” (Grapes four cents a kilo—two and one-fifth pounds). The prices vary according to the season. Or he may have, “Tamata trinta e cinco reis o kilo” (Tomatoes thirty-five reis or three and one-half cents a kilo).

Sometimes an accident occurs, or it happens that wine masters a man. In a few moments a crowd gathers, and we can hear the rattle of the double r’s in the words of an excited people. In spite of all noise and drawbacks, we are happy in telling this people of a Saviour’s great love, and of his soon return. We see many things here to remind us of Bible times, in spite of the modern conveniences. An interesting sight is the ox and cart contesting the right to go ahead of the electric street-car, or the heavy-laden burro as compared with the automobile.

Yesterday three men were killed in or near by a church where voting was in progress. It has seemed that the Republicans would win; but the monarchical parties all united, and carried the election. Yet the Republicans made an enormous gain. The struggle grows more intense day by day.

Kind brethren in Colorado, California, Nebraska, and Iowa have raised a sum of one hundred dollars to buy me an organ. To-day (April 6) we received the last check of twenty-five dollars. We wish to extend our hearty thanks for this help. The organ is doing service in the meeting-hall in Oporto. It has already done good service in calling people in from the street. As Elder Ernesto Schwantes expects to return to Brazil, his son Arnoldo and wife, from Germany, will make good use of the organ and violin as they join with us in the work. This call for the organ was made first as a private one; but from now on our calls will be made through the recognized channels, where they will be attended to in common with all others. Yet we will keep our country and its general needs continually before the brethren.

We must remember the kind efforts of our young people of East Pennsylvania and Iowa, in behalf of our field. As this money does not come to my hands, I can not send personal thanks. So I take this manner of recognizing the gifts. God bless the work and workers everywhere.

Lisbon.