The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-13
PHILIPPINE FASHIONS.

Artist McCutcheOn of Chicago, who is
with the American forces at Manila and
who viii be remembered as having sent
the first pictures illustrating Dewey's
great battle, is now from time to time
sending the home-folks some sketches
Illustrating the people of the Philippines
and their customs and costumes. One OF
his recent pictures shows the rainy day
dress affected by some of the soldiers. It
is suggestive of the uniform in which some
of the men of the Tenth Cavalry fought
at Santiago cartridge belt and a chaw
of tobacco; with this exception. however,
that the soldiers at Manila are not now
wearing their cartridge belts all of the
time, except when they are on guard
duty Occasionally Merritt's men add an
army hat to their rainy day makeup,
though that is rather matter of indl-
vidual preference.
There is philosophy manifested In the
choice of the dress which McCutcheon
illustrates. For nearly three months of the
year, or during the rainy season, the at
mosphere around Manila and Cavite con-
tains about 100 per cent. of humidity; that
as, all of the water that the air will hold
without preeipitating it. When one goes
out into the rain and gets his clothes wet,
therefore, they stay wet until they are
carefully dried out by fire. AS it is not
handy or desirable to have fires burning
around the camp all of the time for the
purpose of drying out clothes, the men
who have to take the rain do so in ma
lures oil-slIns, or the very next thing
thereto. The Americans learned that trick
from the natives; and really it does not
make a great deal Of difference, since la
save their clothes nice and dry to be worn
when they go into more refined society.
1t would appear, from another of Nc
Cutcheon's pictures, however, that the
heat and humidity have a great deal cf
influence upon the wardrobe of the native
belle. The Costume of a Luzon native
summer girl" as illustrated by the Amer
lean, might be mistaken for a chatelain
if it were not for the accompanying de-
scription. 1t is impossible to CINE any
thing more airy. The average bathing
suit meager sit is, is prodigeous, cum
bersome and costly in comparison with it,
There is not any probability that the cos
tune, which is said to be very ancient
one, viii ever be worn by American wo-
men, unless 1t should transpire that by
annexation we make Americans of the ma
tives. In view of these presentations of
midsummer life in the Philippines, it does
not appear that the islands offer very
many inducements for hustling Americans
who are looking for opportunities to open
clothing and dress making establishments.
"I'll bet you half a dollar youH die
first" ''In take the bet" The speakers
were Prvates Albert Fish, of the Twelfth
New York. and James Mitchell of the
Fifth Illinois. They We're typhoid fever pa
tents, and their cots were side by side in
the division hospital in the camp at Lex
ington. The bet was made and taken one
night last week, after the men had been
chatting each other about their Illness.
Why you look like a dead man now"
Mitchell told Fish. And then Fish offered
the wager. Fish died at / o'clock the fol-
lowing day and Mitchell expired fifty min
utes later.