Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-11-25
PICTURESQUE MANILA.
Descriptive Bits From 4 st. Paul's
Mans Letters Home.

l
These letters, as they tricklc in from
the philippines, are giving an idea,
gradually clearer, of the life and con-
dltlons of the American soldiers of the
Pacific islands. The following ex-
tracts are from letters to his family at
Fort Smelling by G. A. Courtright,
chief clerk to Capt. Jones, quarter
| master of the post. One describes a
visit to the cathedral.
" 1t is the finest church | ever saw
and one OF the largest. 1t has magni-
ficent oil paintings and statues of real
gold, some with precious gems. In
I the one | visited there are several
domes, one nearly as high as the one
at Washington. But, after all, what
do you suppose the church is used for?
Barracks for the Spanish. One had
his bed just in front of the alter, anoth-
cr slept in Il confessional and their
blankets are spread all around the edi-
flee. Guards are placed at all the
valuable paintings and images.
In ore church there is an image OF
Jesus valued at $4,000 in our money
it is about three feet high. The dis
play of gilt, gold and silver furnishings
is very rich and costly. And then, to
see the poor, downtrodden people who
have been made to pay for all this,
naked, some of them half-starved, yet
have been made to pay the greater
part of their small earnings to pur-
chase tinery and costly trash that is
certainly not required to worship God.
While was waiting for shower
to pass | watched some native children
playing. One boy had on a derby
hat-I don't know where he got it
but do know that that was everything
he had on. Another little boy was
dressed just in coat. But they were
as happy as anybody and played just
like the boys and you and Ruthie.
1t looks odd to see the Philippine
women, some of the real high-toned
ones, walking about dressed so fine
and barefooted. Some wear sort OF
sandal.
In our yard here we have several
cocoanut trees, two olive trees, one
quite large banyan, and several Others
that we do not see at home. Flowers
are in profusion, some of the finest
orchids, rare lilies, ferns as tall as the
top of our porch at home, but none so
sweet to me as our rose or the old
fashioned pink.
The animals they have for heavy
loads are the buffaloes you have seen
in the menageries rs rare and wonder
full beasts. They are generally fat and
sleek. The musk oxen plow the rice
fields and draw the carts. / have
forty come every morning. The dogs
are NANCY beasts and Brownie would
not be seen on the same block with
them.
81 have two large warehouses and
paved court full of stores, and it is
come and go all the time, everything
from a steam engine to tack. /
have five storekeepers, six teamsters
and forty laborers, and do the clerical
work for the whole Doodle myself. l
don't think could get home on the
o'clock car by long shot.
"We are living in house formerly
occupied by the commander of the
Spanish barracks. We have two car
| riages to take us back and forth. 1t
is near the head of the botanical gar.
dens, once called the finest in the
world, but now in ruins. There are
still some very pretty palms left, and
| flowers without number.
"Bread is 20 cents loaf, eggs 40
cents dozen, fresh beef % cents a
pound. If it was not for the commits
sary we would fare poorly. I have
got so l don't care for ice; would
rather drink the filtered water without
it, and know that it is better for u.s."