South America Narrative

This postcard depicts the battleship USS Delaware, the ship that Charles C. Myers sailed on while serving in the United States Navy.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Perhaps it would not be improper for me, at this time, to briefly reply to the many questions that have been put to me concerning life in the naval service. Many and in fact most persons have an erroneous idea as to the conditions as they exist at the present time and are inclined to judge all men by a few that may sometimes be seen under the influence of liquor. Life on one of our great battleships is not all one of pleasure I assure you, but it is one of strict military discipline that cannot help but be beneficial to all men under its influence. Any of our great modern dreadnaughts [sic] may be likened to a small city–a floating city all by itself having a population of about one thousand men.

Here we see the United States Ship Delaware, which during her short life of less that [sic] two years, has carried the stars and stripes to more countries and with greater honor and distinction than any other battleship in the whole world, and I feel honored, Ladies and Gentlemen, that during her remarkable career, my home was on board the Delaware and that I was enrolled as one of the men who had taken that pledge of honor and stood ready at all times to sacrifice his life if need be for the protection of the flag of our country. The Delaware was by far the largest and mightiest battleship in the world until within the last few months when the Florida and the Utah were put into commission, and now they are only a few feet longer than the Delaware and from a distance do not in any way look superior to the mighty Delaware which at the present time holds the worlds record for honor, distinction and efficiency and is the only battleship in existence that has made two trips across the Atlantic without replenishing her coal supply and still have enough fuel left to make a third trip if necessary. she can stow away over 2600 tons of coal at one time besides several hundred tons of oil fuel.

This postcard shows a view of Rio de Janeiro’s wide central avenue, with lampposts running down the middle and sides of the street. Carriages run down the middle of the boulevard while people walk both on the sides and in the middle of the street.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Another view on Cantral Ave. which is the principal boulevard and for a short boulevard is one of the most beautiful in the world. This street in [sic] only about a half mile long but is 108 ft wide and has a surface smooth as a floor. There is no street car line on this street and it is lined on either side by the finest buildings in the city. This is quite an automobile promenade. One marked feature in the building of this street as well as other streets in the city, is the use of rounded corners, the building line being marked on a curve of considerable radius. This adds a beauty and dignity to the architecture of the buildings and a grace to the appearance of the streets that is lacking in our cities of the United States. Another odd but charming feature seen in not many cities of the world is the side walks made of Mosaic work of black and white stone laid out in many geometrical figures and designs. This indeed has a beautiful appearance especially when viewed from a distance on an elevation. Nearby on this same street. not shown in this picture, is the National Library Bldg. said to be the finest in S. America. The origin of this library was due to the flight of King Joao 6th of Portugal, to Brazil in 1807. This library has over 130,000 volumns [sic] and a collection of over 25,000 very rare medals and over 100,000 very valuble [sic] engravings. The average monthly attendence [sic] at this library is about 3,300 readers.

About a block to the south from this theatre bldg is a noted hospital of Spanish origin which ows [sic] its existence to the Jesuit Priests of the 16th century. it was 30 years under construction, still in good preserve and can accommodate about 1200 patients at one time.

A view of the zoological gardens in Rio de Janeiro’s Republic Square. A number of swans swim in the pond of water, while other birds stand along the shoreline. Paths lined with lights run along the water’s bank. Charles C. Myers says that this is one of “several beautiful parks of the city.”

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “A corner in the zoological gardens. This is an interesting place to visit as her you see a collection of animals and birds like you see no place else in the whole world.”