The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-24

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partment of the Magellan fleet suffered
every time the Ladrone ladies came
aboard to inspect the ship. Culinary
articles of all sorts and shining bits OF
cutlery or tinware were tucked away
in the folds of the ladies' garments,
while the male Ladrones limited their
operations to heavier articles, such as
axes, lances and the similar portables.
Now, going to housekeeping in land
such as that ought to be a very simple
thing; but, unfortunately, there is
nothing in the subsequent history or
present manners of the people to show
that they ever were pilfererS, and the
thievishness of the Ladrone islanders
must be classed with other historical
fictions of the early explorers, like Ell
Dorado, the golden city, and De Icons
fountain of perpetual youth.
AT the present day the women of the
Ladrones are charming, light heart
ed lot, beautiful in their youth, with
their golden brown compilations, soft
brown eyes and silky black hair. The
matrons of the island, smiling, good ma
tured and plump. have lost most of
their beauty by middle age, but their
general kindness of expression makes
up for any loss in mere physical at
fractions of line and color.
Simple, cheerful and hospitab1e, the
home of the average islander is like
tie more than a thin wall and palm
matched roof to keep out the rain. In
the Ladrones it rains every day. Clothes
spread out on grass plots to dry there
fore seldom escape a second dampening
about midday, a fact that does not in
the least disturb the laundresses, as
the rays of the sun are so warm that
they are soon dried off and are indeed
whittier than ever.
i0ho few
clothes, and so the weekly washings
are not of such alarming proportions as
one might imagine in so warm
climate.
The natives of the islands are the
ChamOrros, a people resembling the
Philippine islanders in many respects.
The Caucasians who have visited the
Ladrones have married and intermar-
ried with the natives until the proper
ton of Chamorros is now very small.
The houses of the Spaniards are lit
tie more elaborate than those of the
Chamorros. typical middle class
dwelling is built with thick stone wall
on the ground floor, through which is
cut the large entrance door, The rooms
are unf1oored, the earth being trampled
hard. The first floor is about seven
feet from the ground. Rude steps of
hewn logs lead to it. The living room
is on the first floor and is as a rule COW
cred with rough hewn logs of mahog-
any. The end of the house has a gal
lery built outside beneath the overhang-
ing roof, and it is there in the shade of
the banana and pineapple or palm trees
that the women Of the household sit to
do their sewing and to gossip.
There is not much need to toll and
spin in the Ladrones. A man who has
four or five breadfruit or banana trees is
comfortably provided with food for life,
~,
trees is rich beyond the dreams of av-
arice-that is, according to the Ladrone
standard. A few hours each day is
sufficient to put the grove in a desira-
BILE state of cultivation. A house that
will serve for lifetime residence, pro-
vided the tropical storms do not wreck
it, can be put up in half day.
The receptions at the governors man
sion when friendly warships put into
port were the leading social events of
the islands. A dance, or fandango, as
it is called, is the merrymaking of the
common people.
The invitations for the dance are is
sued by word of mouth The younger
ladies appear at the festivity gowned in
white and wearing flowers in their jet
black hair. Both men and women
lounge about the walls of the ballroom
smoking cigarettes until the dance mu-
sic begins. They are graceful dancers.
Somewhere in the background the host
is presiding over little room, in which
wines and other liquid refreshments of
a fervid quality are served to the men
of the company.
The supper table is laid in a larger
room and is provided with all manner
of fruits, many cakes and cold meats
There are wine and cigarettes, too, and
every one eats long and often. The
Spanish officers of the town were certain
to be present if they got wind of the
dance, for there is nothing that so
charms one of these gallant warriors
as the prospect of something good to
drink and a dance with some pretty
senorita. The village padre, too, drops
in to beam benevolently on his flock
and quaff a cup of wine with the
host.
There are schools in the Ladrones IN
der the auspices of the church, but they
are not attended as they should be. The
happy go lucky women of the islands
allow the children to run wild until the
energetic padre hunts up little Mar
gherita and Carlos and demands their
attendance in the catechetical class
preparatory to confirmation. Very de-
vout where their religion is concerned
are the Ladronese, and even though the
children may be unable to read or write
they are all promptly, when of the
proper age, made members of the
church.