Radio Globe-Trotters Now Reach Portugal

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 32, 20 January 1939, Page 9

Radio Globe-Trotters Now Reach Portugal

Creauered Career Of A Country

FOR ‘every one who knows tha‘ the rich red wine we call "port" derives its name from Portugal’s "®} Porto" (the port), there. must * be thousands who don’t, and simply associate it with those. engaging ladies on the wrong side of the bar who dilute (and spoil) it with lemonade.

Portugal is a wonderful country ' with its grape vines and olive trees, its tunny and sardine fisheries, and its incredible history. Not one .of the bluest legends of our Plantagenets, Tudors, Stuarts and Hanovers can hold a candle to the stories of some of the royal rotters in the len&thy strittg-of those’ wid

have sat upon the throne of Portugal. ; But many Portuguese monarchs were noble and brave men, good rulers, and far-sighted. The Burgundian House which continued in possession of the throne fer 440) years, gave to Poriugal some cr iis best kings. Portuguese sailors, who includ¢d Vasco da Gama end Bartholomeo Diaz brought power and wealth to Portugal, but thanks to the expulsion of the numerous wealthy and industrious Jews, on -whose able financial management the commercial! interests of the Portuguese were largely dependent,. and -the intraduction of the Inquisition of the Jesuits, this prosperity abruptly declined. Portugal’s empire shrank to a mere shadow of its former self after the loss of Brazil a little over a century ago, and in 1910, the last king of Portugal, Manoel, was dethroned. Britain’s ancient ally has had a truly hectic past in which assassination has played no ‘minor part, Today the population of Portugal is something under seven m’ lions, that of ‘its colonial possessions about ten millions. The country’s story is a thrilling one. Much can be learned from the particular chapter in the "Ports of Cali" series which deals with Portugal, and -will be broadcast by 2YA on Saturday, January 27.