Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-10-29

partmcnt Of the Magellan fleet suffered
every time the Ladronu ladies came
aboard 90 inspect the ship. Culinary
articles Of all sorts aud shining bits OK
cutlery or tinwnfo were tucked away
In the folds OF the ladies' garments.
while the male 1.ndroneH limited their
operations 10 heavier articles, such as
axes. lancca and the similar portahlca.
Now. going 60 housekeeping ln a land
such ne that ought TO be- very simple
thing; but. unfortunately, there "
nothing In the subsequent history or
present manners Of the people 20 show
that they ever were pilforcru. ana the
thievinhncsa of the Ladronc Islanders
must be cinnHod with other rhetorical
nctiona Of the early explorers. like ~
Dorado. the golden city. and De Icons
fountain u perpetual youth.
~ the present day the women N the
Ladroncs are charming, llght heart
ed lot. beautiful In their youth. with
their golden brown compilations. soft
brown eyes and silky black halr. The
matrona Of the island. smiling, good ma.
turcd and plump. have lost most ~
their beauty by middle aFc. but their
general kindilncas Of expression makes
up Tor any losa IN mere physical at
fractions OF line and color.
Simple. chrcffui md hospitabie. the
home ~ the average ISLANDER iH like
those OF most natives N the tropics. It,
lie more than a thin wall and a palm
matched roof 20 keep out tho rain. ln
the Ladronos Il rains every day. Clothes
spread out on grass plots 20 dry thorc-
fore seldom escape a second damrrnlnF
about midday fact that docs not In
tho least disturb the laundFonseH. o.
the rays 0f tho sun are % warm that
thcy are soon dried on and arc indeed
whittier than ever.
Most of tho Inhabitants wear fow
clothes. ana 20 tho weekly waHhlnFs
are not of such alarming proportions as
one might Imagine la no warm a
climate.
The natives Of the islands are the
Chamorros. people resembling the
Philippine ISLANDERS In many respects
The Caucnslana who have visited the
LndroncI have married and ihtermar-
ricd with the natives until the proper
ton Of Chnmorroa n now very small.
The houses Of tho spanlards ARE 1T
lie more elaborate than those Of tho
ChnmorroB. A typical middle class
dwelling II built with a thick stone wall
on the Fround floor. through which II
cut the large entrance door. Tho rooms
are unnonrcd, the earth being trampled
hard The nrut floor ~ about seven
feet from the ground. Rude steps Of
hewn logs lead 20 II. The living room
II on the iirHt floor and h ~ a rule COW
erod with rough hcwn LOGS u mahor-
any. Tho end ~ the house has gal
lcry built outside beneath tho overhnnE-
INK roof, and n r. there IN the shade ~
the banana ana pineapple or palm trees
that the women ~ the household III TO
do their sewing ana 10 gossip,
There IL not much need 60 toll and
spin In the Ladrnnra a man Who has
four or hvc hrcadfuit or banana trees In
comfortably provided with food Tor life.
ana a man with q grove of brendfrult
trees IL rich beyond the dreams ~ av-
nrlct--that n, according 10 the I.adrone
standard. A few hours each day In
Huiiiclrnt 10 put the grove In a dcHIrn-
hlr state or cultivation. A house that
viii serve for lifetime residence. pro-
vlded the tropical storms do not wreck
H. can be put up In half day
The receptions nt the governors man
sion when friendly wnrshlps put into
the islands a dance or n fundnngo. ne
II II called. II the merrymaking Of the
common people.
The invitations for the dance are Is
sued BY word Of mouth, The younger
ladies appear az the fcstivity gowncd In
white ana wearing flowers In their Jet
black hair. Both men ana women
lounge about the walls ~ tho ballroom
40. 40
Hic begins. They are graceful dancers.
Somewhere In the background the host
u presiding over n little room. In which
wines and other liquid refreshments Of
forvld quality are served 10 tho men
Of the company
Tho supper table II laid In a larger
room ana o. provided with al manner
of fruits, many cakes ana cold meats.
There arc wine ana cigarettes too, ana
every one eats long and often. Tho
Spanish officers ~ the town were certain
90 be present N they got wind N tho
dance. Tor there is nothing that 30
charm' one 81 these gallnnt warriors
as the prospect of something gond 20
drink ana dnuce with some pretty
Henurlta, The village padre. too, drops
In TO beam bencyolontly on his nock
and qunn cup Of wine with tho
host.
There are schools In the LadroneB un'
der the auspices NJ the church. but they
arc not attended as they should be. The
hHupy 300 lucky women of the Islands
allow tho children 10 run Wild until the
energetic padre hunts an little Mar
gheHia and Carlos and domnnda their
attendance In the cgtechetical class
preparatory to confirmation. Very de-
NUut whore tholr religion 10 concerned
arc the f.8drune8e aud even though tho
children may be unable tu read or write
they are all promptly when of the
proper age, made memberH OF the
church.
CAROLINE wETIiEREi.L