The news & observer., 1898-05-08

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their property and sells it; if the pro-
ceedS Of the sale fail to cover the in
,Iebtedness, the delinquent debtors are
imDriSoned or deported. At Siquid0r
Mr. Worcester saw Il melancholy pro
cessiop Of II men who had lost houses.
cottle and lands and who still owed
sums ranging from $50 to $40: they were
heing sent prisoners til BOhol and their
families were left to shift for them
selves.
The natives get little or nothing iii
return for this frightful burden of tax
alton. The courts of justice are q
farce: the Judge makes no secret of hls
venolitv. In a few towns there are Il
few schools. In the village and in the
country there are none. There are no
roads which are passable except at the
dry season, and then only by builai"
sIcds In the rainy season intercourse
ceases There are no bridges Now
and then military bridge is built by
an enterprising general. No attempt
is made to repair il. and it soon fails
into decay. Thus wherever 1t is posSi-
bic people travel and send their produce
to market by boat. Lots of brigandS
have been shot or hanged, but brigand-
age still hourishes ut the Lagguna dc
Bay close to Manila, and the island OF
ATindoro at the mouth of Manila Bay
is II safe refuge for pirates and cut
throats. Natives who travel cannot
protect themselves. for no one can have
weapon in his possession without pro
curing n license. and that Is
expensive.
The weight of taxation is aggravated
by the rapacity of the governors. When
General Weyler was governor general
he received salary of $4,000 a year.
but it is said that the calls upon his purse
for entertainments and charities left
him no savings at the end of the year.
Nevertheless, at the close Of his term he
had lying to his credit in the hanks OF
London and Paris IL sum which Madrid
politicians variously estimated ut from
ST 600. 900 to $4.000,000. How he mana
ccd to accumulate so large fortune may
he inferred from an anecdOtc which was
current talk at Manila. He was succeed
cd by General Dcspuyol, who. strange to
say waS an honest man. He had no
sooner taken his seat in the Gubernato-
rial office than he was visited by one of
Behind the Chinese came servants bear.
ing bags which contained $4,000 in
coins. This trihe the merchant begged
the new governor TO accept as a sligh,
token of his consideration lie was
nightly astonished when the now Off.
cial promptly knocked him down.
There have been other Spanish officials
of the type of Despuyol. Some years
4 rIo h..l
the ill-wil of the Colonial office at Mad
rid was appointed governor Of the pro.
vince Of Suda 1t was intended to be
an exile. Suda was a most unhealthy
spot. in which malalarious fcyers ragged;
most of the province was inhabited by
n tribe called Moros who were ,rigands
by calling and fighters by choice. ii
CHANGED that Arolas was a nan Of re-
source. He drained the town and dis
peled the feverS. He enrolled body
of natives and drilled them until they
were fit to put in the field. ana marched
ON the Moros. Choosing his battlefield,
he met the brigands. and inflicted Slch n
castigation that they gave no further
trouble during his administrator. Re
turning home victorious, he improved his
town. founded a hospital and schools,
broad streets. paved with coral. But his
heart was in Spain. and Mt an early
opportunity he returned there. and rose
to high rank in the arnly. II there
had been more Spaniards OF his stamp
the Philippines would not now be drop,
ping ont OF the clutch of Span.
Manila is beautiful city about the
size of San Francesca. 1t is built on
both sides of the River rass'c. which
is navigable to its source. Old Maniil
lay on the left bank Parts of the ma
sonic stone wall which WAS built around
it two hundred years ago are still visible {.
and some. of the gates survive. through
which stream Of solemn frilrs, grin
ming Chinese, resplendent Spanish Off
cials, beggars in rags. piors nuns, hand.
some senoras, gay native girls. mestizos
in uniform. natives in breechclouts, four
horse carriages. two-wheel pony wagons
and creaking buffalo carts pour from
morning till night. The cathedral, mon.
asteries and government offices are in
old Manila: the business quarter the for
eign shipping houses, the banks, stores
and custom houses are in Bnondo,on the
other side is the river. Between the walls
and the shore is the Luneta, the fash
ionable promenade where the band plays
and society enjoys the evening breeze.
flirts under hundreds of electric tights
and drives around the circle in carriages.
which follow each other in slow, dig
nified procession. The best houses in
Manila are built of stone. and are hand
some residences, though there is ne
window glass used in their construction.
Instead of glass the windows are glazed
with tranSluauf Shnll This *
cut into squares so small that a win
dow eight feet by four will contain 250
of them. 1t is found that they temper
the light
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