Em Aracaju, nas décadas de 1910 e 1920, as elites passarama incorporar a ideia de um novo tempo, adaptando-seao modelo que acontecia na capital do Brasil, em São Pauloe nas sociedades europeias e americanas. Também procuraram,“a qualquer custo”, desencadear ações concretaspara fazer valer aquilo que consideravam modernizaçãopara a capital sergipana. As epidemias eram algo que deveriamser combatidas para não atrapalhar o projeto demodernização, bem como a amenização do discurso sobreos surtos epidêmicos fazem parte do mesmo projeto. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT: In Aracaju in the 1910s and 1920s the elite started to incorporate the idea of a “New Age” following the model that was prevalent in the capital of Brazil, in the city of São Paulo, and of the European and American society. They also sought “at any cost” to instigate concrete action to bring about what was considered to be a modernization of the capitol of the state of Sergipe. Epidemics were something that had to be fought in order to impede the modernization project. Public discourse over the outbreaks of epidemics were a part of this larger project.