The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-11-11
WILL MERRILL AT MANILA.

Extracts from letter from Win Mer
riil to his mother and sister:
! MANILA, Oct. 8. 1S9S.-Dear Mamt
and Sister:
am happy today as write this lettel
for We have heard that we are to be or
dered home. Our officers tell us thai
the 0regons will start between the 9Th
and 10th of November. can barely be,
ieve yet that it is true. have just
prayed to be at home Christmas; what a
happy time it will be. l am well and
getting along all right. send small
package. 1t is q silk cap for you to wear
to school. Hope you will receive it o.
X.
guess we will get to go home with
our regimental all right. You know ten
OF us were transferred to the U. =. Hos
pital Corps Aug. 5, and are now in the
general hospital here, have only been
90 the quarters once since we entered
Manila. 1t is about two miles from here.
Several OF the boys have been robbed
since pay day. One boy from Colorado
had $3.50 taken from under his pillow.
1t was his transportation money. He
had been discharged on account of his
health, and was to have started home
the next day. Another was robbed right
in the hospital of $22. Two boys have
been arrested. My pard, Frank Pease,
is sick and ! am taking care OF him.
went to church last night in a tent
and heard fine sermon; the tent was
crowded.
A good many of our boys are sick. We
have ove- 500 here. Most of the cases
are malarial fever. There are several
cases of measles and seven of small pox.
Our food is fairly good now, but for a
while we came near living on mountain
air and ocean scenery. had to wear a
corset TO keep my pants up, traded my
suspenders for bananas.
So you think Dewey has the swell
head. No he has not, bit. don't
like him, though, he threw sand in my
eyes. We were down on the beach max
ing houses in the sand and got in fight,
because would not give him half of my
banana
Yes, this is the paper. Came o. X.
thank you for them, and especially the
writing material. There is not much
left of this tablet. We can't get bit of
good paper here.
You want to know about the Spanish
women. | don't know much about them
for there are not many here, and allIhaye
seen were in the stores and in their car
riages. They never go ON the street dur
ing the day, but wait until evening to do
their shopping. They are very fashion
ably dressed according to the Spanish
modes, that is. wear the finest silk and
use the most expensive perfumes and
have their hair nicely dressed, but wear
no hat whatever, sometime light veil is
thrown over the head and face. They
never walk on the street, but 90 every
place in little carriages, having driver
and an attendant; these are dressed in
the French fashion, wearing swallow tail
coats and plug hat with feathers in it.
The carriages are so little and low. You
know the horses here are all Shetland
ponies and the carriages are built espec-
ially for them.
The Spanish women ar, very pretty,
nearly everyone | have seen is light
but some have dark hair.
This is an unhealthy climate. The
Spanish are just as anxious to get out of
here as we are.
will tell you the rest when l get
home, watch the papers and you will
know when we are coming. Give NV
regards to all friends, and much love to
yourself. Yours Lovingly
WILL MERRILL.