The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-08-14
A MILDLY IN MANILA.

To sail from Winter into Summer is very
pleasant for those whose home is man. Of
war; and so we found it as we stood down
the coast of Formoso, every day bringing us
nearer to the Philippines.
We came to anchor one day at Tam Fu,
near the southern end of Formosa. The
English had just bombarded the place, but
we were too late for the fun. We went on
shore and visited the ruins of an old Dutch
fort, built in sixteen hundred and some
thing, and made of about 500, 1000, 900 bricks;
the Cinnamon had built up a whole town
from the bricks of one wall. We threw
stones at the pigs who reside with the ma
tives, ate some bananas, and returned to the
ship disguised with Formosa. That morn
ing we got under way again, and after two
days delightful sailing over a Summer sea,
stood into the charming circular bay of
Manila, and came to anchor near the city.
No Italian sea and sky are more beautiful
than we found here, and the bright Span
ish town nestles cozily at the head of the
bay where the little river Pasig empties
itself into the sea.
A happy party we were that day going
ashore in our white jackets and straw hats;
four days before, we had shivered in fan
nels and overeoats. Wepulled up the river
to the landing, and there took carriages
for nobody ever walks here who can ride
and drove all through the towns, old and
new. Manila was nearly destroyed by an
earthquake in 1868, but it has since been
all rebuilt. The ruins of the large cathe-
dral are preserved, and when we visited it,
the bell-ringer took US up into the tower,
where we had fine view of the earthquake.
He was standing where we now we're, be-
side the bell, and saw the earth shake and
the houses fall; the terrified inhabitants
looking to him at this distance like fright
ened ants-tled from place to place; then
the roof of the cathedral fell upon the wor-
shippers below, and buried many in the ruins.
And he alone seemed to be left above the
scene of destruction.
No foreigners are allowed to live inside
the wall of this fine town; it is purely Span
ish, with it's converts, cathedrals, and its
two. storied houses with overhanging YER
andas and latticed windows.
We called at gentleman's house one
day; we drove through the front door and
at ha foot Of tho fair India n
boy took up our cards; we alighted, and
while waiting for the boy remarked that
the horses, cows, etc, resided on the ground
floor, which is of stone, and that the car
riages were also kept there; we then walked
up flight of brown stone steps, and, pass
ing through an opening without doors,
found ourselves in the large "sala," a spa
cious saloon with dark wood floor pol
ished like piano-top. On entering the
room, one must offer his hand to every lady
and gentleman without exception; this we
did, and repeated some appropriate Span.
ish sentences from the tenth lesson in
Ollendorf, l think There were the
senior, his accomplished sonora, and two
flirtatious senoritas; the conversation soor
became very brilliant, in one or two
cases going as high as the twenty ninth
lesson, and some good things were gotter
off from Aims Spanish Reader; midship
man Veer, who knew nothing whatever il
Spanish except that romantic account, ia
miliar to all students, commencing with
"The Island of Cuba is the most beautiful
of all the Antilles" went through it with
much eloquence, deity inserting Luzon fo1
Cuba, and Philippines for Antilles; but hi
brought confusion upon himself, for the
the subsequent conversation, all addressed
to him, was so deep that he rose in despair
remarking that he was off soundings, ant
we took our leave, shaking hands al
around as before. On arriving at the foo
of the steps we turned around, CONNIE d
coutunae, and said Buenos dias," to thu
ladies, who had, also CONNIE de coutnnas
followed us to the head of the stairs.
At 5 o'clock we started for the Calzad;
or public drive; hundreds of carriages wer
going in the same direction; in nearly ever.
one were two or three ladies in evenin.
dress, without cloaks or hats. There wer
great many pretty black-eyed senorita
who glanced at us from under their lonl
lashes in such bewitching way as to Civ
me sort of electric Jingle.
The drive is along the shore of the beau
tiful bay, and the scene one of life, beauty
and enchantment. On reaching the end o
the drive, all the carriages haul off into al
open space and stop, and the people gaz
at each other and nod in recognition; littl
naked Philippine presents dance around