The times., 1898-08-07
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brothers Every native has his fighting cock,
which is reared with the greatest care until he
has shown sufficient proves to entitle nm TO an
entrance into the cockpit. In case OF nre the
rooster is the first thing rescued and removed 10
a place of safety, for babies-common luxurles IN
the Philippines-are 4 secondary consideration
and easily duplicated than the featherea
biped. Ii is almost impossible 10 walk along any
street in the suburban part OF the town without
seeing dozens of natives trudging along with
roosters under their arms, which are being talk-
ed TO and petted TO distraction. At every other
little roadside hut an imp'omptu battle VIII he
going on between two birds OF equal or unequal
merit the two piopTietogs holding their respect
i've ROSTERS by the tails in order that they may
not into too close quarters The eockpits
where gatherings are held Thursdays and sun
days, are large enclosures covered with a rcot
OF thstch sewed onto framework OF bamboo.
They are open on all sides and banked up with
tiers of rude seats that surround n Sawdust ring
in the center. Outside the gates to the flimsy
structure sit motley crowd of women young
and old, selling eatables whose dark. greasy tex
ture beggars description, while LeTe and there
in tie oTen space couple OF natives will be Civ
ing their respective I0osters a sort OF prellml-
nary trial with each other. As the show goes on
inside shouts and applause resound at every op'
portunity. and at the close OF the perfol mlnce
number of tlTo-wheeled gigs carry off the vietoIs
with their spoils while the losers trudge home
through the dust on foct.
Other familiar street scenes consist OF Chinese
BARRIERS, who carry around a chair, a pair OF
scissors and wherever they go, and stop 10
give you a shave hair cut at any part OF the
block; or Chinese ear cleaners, who scoop out OF
these organs some of the unprintable epithers
hurled by one native ar another.
Another chapter of interest is that
which describes the typhoon:
Early in this eventful week warnings came
from our most excellent observatory, run by the
Jesuit priests that trouble brewing down
in the Pacific to the south and ca l. and by Fri
II uie nal ~ fka Il Sa-Sfaf a
played on the flagstaff Of the lookout tower.
The news about the storm was indefinite, but the
villain was supposed to be slowly moving north
west, headed directly for Manila. Saturday up
went signal No. . and in the Afternoon No. 3
and by evening No. 4. Still everything WAS calm
and peaceful, and Sunday ming dawned pleas
ant but for tie exception Of duh haze. Ear.y
in the afternoon up went signal No. 5, which
means that things getting pretty bad, and
which is not far from No. s, the worst that can
be hoistcd
Everybody now began to get ready for the in
visible monster All the steamers and ships in
the river put out extra cables, and the vessels
in the bay extra anchors. No small craft OF any
kind were permitted to pass out by the break
wate-. and later navigation IL the river itself
was prohibited. Still everything was calm and
quiet, but the haze thickened, ard low cloudi be
gan TO sail in from the Caina Sea. Sho tIy after
titiin At our residence by the seaside gaze
attracted by native coming down the street.
q cSsed in black coat. with shirt-tals hanging
4 oct beneath. and wearing white trousers and a
tall hat. lie carried q decorated cane, wore no
shoes. and marched down the center OF the st ect,
giving utteiance- to solemn sentences in a deep
musical voice. In short, he the official crier
/ to herald the coming OF tine typhoon, and as
J he maT5ned along, the bells up in the cd church
beyond our house rang out what poets would call
, wild. warning plea
The natives opposite began hastily to sling ropes
over the thatch of their light slantes. and one
OF the EngiishInen WHO lived not far bac& Of us
! had already stretched 20 solid cables over the
! steep, soping roof Of his domicile A sort of
} hush prevailed. and then sudden gusts began to
! blow in off the bay. The scld-cloads inc-casetl
I and appeared to be in 4 fearful hurry The roar
OF the surf lJudtned, and aft y the ether our
; sliding sea-she!l windows had II be shut and
/ boisteTed Up for PrecautioH. Tne typEoun emed
TO be advancing slowly as they often do; but its
. course was sure. Our O'Clock dinner hour PISS
{ ed and the wiad began 10 howl. Befo tn II NJ
I IN for the night we moved out OF little par
lor such valuable articles might be most m 5 !
II they decided to journey of through the air in
company with the oof, and later tried TO sleep
Z amidst a terrific din OF rattlings But slumber
was impossible Our house tr mblcd ike blu h.
Ing BRIDE before the altar, and fo- the triumphal
music Of tie wedding march the tin was sud
denly stripped Of rain-shed roof like so much
paper And then the racket Great pieces of tin
! were slappng around againt the house; tie trees
IN the freHt garden were saving against the cor
nlces, as II they wanted to get in and the rush OF
ar outside seemed 10 generate a vacuum within.
At Things got 90 bad that il seemed
as If something were going burst, and my
chum and decided 10 take a last look into the
parlor before seeking the safety Of the cellar No
sA4A> NbG4u nave NlthetoCu the gusts that came
pouncing in from the bay, but our sea-shell win
dows dld not yield The rain was sizzling in
! through the cracks like hot grease when fresh
/ doughnut is dropped into the spider, and the
noise outside was deafening As our house seemed
tc be holding together. however, gave up go
ing to the regions below, and turned in again.
thankful that we were not Of en- the ships in
the bay. Now and then the wind lulled some.
what, and blew from another quarter. but by
early morning came some OF the most terrific
bowlngs j have felt, resulting from the
ctange OF direction Down all the wire:
IN the main street; over went half doz n nina
houses 10 cne side of US and ''kerplunl' broke
on some venerable trees that for many years hat
I wIthstood the blast. The street was a mass o.
! wreckage as far down the eye could see anc
few signs of life visible. One OF tht
l bank managers was to give a dinner-dance at hi
| house the next evening. to which everyone was
I invited, when word came that the bungalow coulC
only be reached by boats, and that the festivities
would have 10 be put off until the parlor fool
appeared.
Not all of Mr.. Stevens descriptions
are of Manila itself. He made several
excursions into the interior. and gath
cred much information and many expa.
riences. ais those win find who read his
book. (New York: Charles Scribner's
Sons)