The age-herald., 1898-10-30

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 b heavier articles, such as axes lances and the similar porta- bles.
 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 thevishness of the Ladrone islanders must be classed with other historical Actions of the early explorers, like Fl Dorado, the golden city, and De Leon's fountain of perpetual youth.
 At the present day the women of the Ladrones are a charming, light heart ed lot, beautiful in their youth, with their golden brown complexions, soft brown eyes and silky black hair. The matrons of the island, smiling, good na- tured and plump have lost most of their beauty by middle age, but their general kindliness of expression makes up for any loss in mere physical at- tractions of line and color. lr
 Simple, cheerful and hospitable the home of the average islander is like those of most natives of the tropics. lit- tie more than thin wall and a palm thatched roof to keep out the rain. In the Ladrones 1t 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 whiter than, ever.
 | Most of the inhabitants wear few l. clothes, and so the weekly washings are not of such alarming proportions as | one might imagine in so warm a climate. .' A ssss The natives of the islands are the Chamorros people resembling the E Philippine islanders in many respects. The Caucasians who have visited the Ladrenes have married and intermar- rIed with the natives until the pro- portion of Chamorros is now very small.
 5 { The houses of the Spaniards are a lit- tie more elaborate than those of the Chamorros., typical middle class dwelling is built with thick stone wall d cut the large entrance door, The rooms are unfoored 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 rule cov- cred with rough hewn logs of mahog- any. The end of the house has a gall 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 d comfortably provided with food for life, and a man with a grove of breadfruit trees is rich beyond the dreams of av- arice-that is,, according to the Ladrene standards A few hours each day is 5 sufficient to put the grove in a desira-- ble 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 a fandango. as it is called, is the merrymaking of the 2
 
 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 tec black hair. Both men and wornsS 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 fervid quality are served to the lien of the company.
 The supper table is laid in larger room and is provided with all manner of fruits, many cakes and cold meats. There are wine and cigarettes. too, and l, 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 cup of wine with the host.
 There are schools in the Ladrones un- der the auspices of the church, but they l, 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 r attendance in the catechetical class preparatory to confirmation. Very de- vout where their religion is concerned are the Ladronese. and even though tho1 children may be unab;v or 1Y they are all promptE
 proper age. made mel
 church. W