Brazil inaugurated a monument of 38 meters high. A Christ with his arms outstretched, raised from a stony hill at the Río de Janeiro Bahia. The construction was on the initiative of the Catholic Church on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Brazilian Independence, in 1922. However, as late as October 12th, 1931, the work was unveiled.

The Río de Janeiro Archdiocese recreated in 1921 a proposal by priest Pedro María Boss in 1859 to Queen Isabel of Brazil, to put there the pedestal of a religious monument.

Some of the designs considered for the statue depicted a Christ holding the world in his hands and another one crucified. Finally, the concept of The Redeemer won. Seventy-six years later, it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, a private initiative organized by Swish Bernard Weber, inspired by the Ancient Wonders.

Fight against Gómez
For his part, Juan Vicente Gómez still took hold of Venezuela. While he never stopped being in charge, he went back to the Presidency on July 13th.

His enemies, however, insisted on toppling him. Twelve Venezuelan young men, including Rómulo Betancourt, signed on March 22nd, 1931 the Barranquilla Bill, the first political plan based on a survey of the Venezuelan reality.

With a Marxist nuance, the country project established the military pull-out from public office, freedom of thought, a comprehensive literacy program, revision of oil concessions and a National Constituent Assembly.

They were by no means the only Venezuelans who made an effort to overthrow the government. General Gómez's troops thwarted in October an armed uprising that had left Mexico for the coasts of western Falcon State. It was directed by Rafael Simón Urbina.

Úslar shows his spears
Young Arturo Úslar Pietri released his first novel entitled Las lanzas coloradas [Red Spears] labeled by El Universal, in its edition of May 10th as a "resounding success." The work deals with Independence times.

That same year, Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, 49, died from pneumonia. The Caracas Municipal Theater was packed on November 1917 to see the classic ballet star that dazzled the press. She died on January 23rd while on tour of Europe. "Get my swan outfit ready," were her last words.

It was not the only loss though. Scientist Thomas Alva Edison died on October 18th. Just one month later, poet and founder of El Universal, Andrés Mata, died in Paris. He was 61 years old.