Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-11-10
AIetter From the Philippines.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Santember %, 1875.

SeDIeu DtE ~, 49,
We'll Mr.. REGISTER, I'll do as prom
ised YOU in Honolulu-let you hear from
me again. lam now in the much-tsikeu-
of city Of Manila; but not alone, Tor tnefe
are about Is, 600 American soldiers here'
besides the famous Dewey's fleet. 30 you
see have plenty of good, royal Amer
can company.
For one to take drive in and around
Manila he wouldn't think this place
for war. 1t seems to me more of place
for artists or poets instead OF warriors
Here is the place where all the Amer
can bows have learned a lesson well worth
learning. This is a country where wealth.
abounds. but all one can see is misery
IT'S plainly seen that Spain spent all on
her churches and prisons. Instead OF
teaching the native good lesson she
taught them to disbelieve and put them
in prison for every little offense.
Now, III try and tell you something
about Manila. Manila is situated on
beautiful bay and river emptying into
the bay at the city's edge, and there Is
lots Of shipping done here, mostly sugar
hemp, rice, spices and mahogany WOODS,
Cigar-making is great industry There
is a French firm here that employs lO,OOO
natives making cigarettes and cigars.
The cigars are OF the best quality. l
can buy box of cigars for 81, fifty IN
box. The same cigar would retail readily
at 1Ocents a piece in Frisco There are
some modern stores. They are run by
English or French or Germans. The
cafes and restaurants are well patroniZed
at nights by all swells. The Americans
are in the majority now. They have
poor street car system, that is run oy
little ponies. The popular way is CAP
to travel in, and fine carriages. a cab
costs - cents Spanish money per hour.
An American dollar goes as far as two
Spanish or two Mexican dollars. The
postoflice is American-everything now
is American-and il the Americans keep
this country this will be good country
to live in. The climate is tropical but
not bad. IT'S warm from 10 a. m. to 3
p. m, then most everybody goes in the
shade. The nights are cool enough and
the mosquitoes are very busy calling and
treating everybody alike. The health
of the city is good for such climate.
Well, the native PHILIPPINE is no good.
He is lazy and isn't honest. They will
cheat and steal and beg rather than work.
The streets are full OF beggars and fruit
peddlars, mostly women. The regular
natives are few in Manila. They are
mixed with Chinese, japanese, Samese
and Spanish. and such a race as that
isn't any good. These are the people
that call themselves insurgents, and will
cause any country trouble. But think
the Americans can tame them, AT least
they are doing so now. Well, | forgot
to tell you that it rains down here, and
it don't fool about it, either. Rains
nearly every evening-thunders and rains
in torrents. They say the winter season
is fine and dry. | am going to try and
take good, long trip inland this winter
or fall. There are parts of this island
that have never been explored yet. The
natives in there are savages, but I'll risk
them, any way.
Well, guess have said about enough
for this time. Will promise TO let you
hear from me again sometime soon.
With best wishes to all friends,
BUB Bowers.