Evening star., 1898-08-27

theIr staple food-the husband looks aftef
the children and cooks the dinner. 1t Is
also very difficult to get women to act as
nurses and maids in European families.
And more than one English family of my
acquaintance found themselves under the
necessity of drafting into the nursery one
more of the muchachos, or boys of
the household. often finding these male
nurses more satisfactory in many respects
than the women. This approximate equal
ity of the sexes" in the Philippines, not
accorded to them by Christionity, but to a
great extent merely a survival of their own
ancient tribal customs, affords further eVf-
dence of the untrnth Of the assumption by
the Mill School of the immemOrial and
worldwide "subjection of women"
Matrimony Overtaxed.
Irregular unions are extremely common,
and for this, strange to say, the clergy are
largely responsible. Though regular tar
iff of marriage fees exists, the priests often
SET these aside and demand a quite exor-
bitant fee. calculated upon the supposed
ealth of the parties. Tagals having
rooted aversion to being married elsewhere
tt an in their own parish, this abuse OIL
pc wer is not easily evaded. The conse-
qUenee IS that, in village and town anke'
many dispense altogether with the religious
ceremony and content themselves with the
old communal or family sanction, the Gus
toInary gifts being presented to the brlde
father, and the usual festivities held.
Many Mixed Marriages.
Mixed marriages have always been en-
couraeed by the government of the Philip
pines. special advantages being granted to
military men who marry the daughters of
the country. Three centuries of intern1ar-
rage between European men and niitive
women ana also betw cen the latter and
the numerous Chinese immigrants, Eave
consequently ADDED to the original popula-
ton a large proportion of half-bree1s rep
resenting every degree of admixture.
Morose Half-Breeds.
The moral result of this is that they are,
generally speaking, morose in disposition,
captious in temper, exasiVe and gacilattng,
dissatisfied with their lot, fond of litigation
amt political intrigue and inclined to foster
grievances against the government. The
better educated among them aspire to be-
coming reformers of their countrys s insd-
tuTions. ana even previously TO the 10 te
reYolts. ertain number have been i'm
prudent enough to give proof of the desire
entertained by many to overthrow Spanish
rule in the islands and establish insteat
Philippine republic.
1t is, 1 believe, an ascertained fact that
the increase of energy introduced into the
Philippine native by European blood lasts
OILY 10 the second generation; and, left to
himself, the tendency of the mestiZo is
ever TO revert to the maternal type. The
native is TOD indolent, and the hold of civ
IiI@aton upon nIm TOO slight, ever TO make
anything higher than municipal seit-gov-
ernment possible In these islands.
Their Gay Costumes.
Most OF the mestizos and many of the
Tagal women are arrayed in full skirts of
Brightly checked, striped brocaded silks,
ara those among them who content them
selves with cotton outvie their weaithier
sisters in yividly contrasting red, blue and
yellow. over this the Tagais wear 4 place
OF dark blue stuff, fastened aprC n-Wise
tightly round the hips, and descending to
the knee. The beli-shaped sleeves of their
snort. loose jackets, made of pima gauze
ana the kerchefs of the same material
worn on the shoulders. and out of doors on
the head. have their borders decorated
with elaborate laceitke needIework Their
long black tresses. which when loose often
reach to their ankles. are neatly coiIed al
the pack OF the head, where they are Sc
cured with soid-mounted pins and combs
often set with real diamonds, as are also
the bracelets, earrings and long watch
chalhs which the Tagal elegante delights
IN wearing. Their stockingless feet are
protected from the dust by chinelas. COL
ored slippers. consisting merely of a sole
ard accommodation for four toes the
small toe remaining outside
Inc native dandies wear white duck
trousers and a shirt, which latter NAV he
more or less of the cut familiar to us
WEen made of white calico. but the front
Is elaborately embroidered tucked or
t4.iASu' e-Ilu lile Ddch is disposed in fun
Kits. Unconfned by the trousers. Camisa
fuera. shirt outside" is the technical
term for this native fashion, which greatly
scandalized an elderly English lady on her
arrival at Manila. Emily. my dear. don't
look. she exclaimed in a Mortified whiz-
per 10 her daughter when this costume
nIst met her shocked gaze. Don't lookl
Ihe servant mas forgotten to dress him
SELF 0N 1I
The camisa fuera however. takes rather
the form of blouse, and consequently
strlhes a European less oddly when made
OF PIMA Sauze, of the prettily striped Just
OF OF the hempen abaca- With these the
native pure and simple wears the salacot
a mushroom-shaped, sunproof hat, some
Tunes 1nlaid round the briun with pattern
IN silver This heaegear of his forefathers
Is ulscarded to great extent by the towns
man Tor straw hat of European form. az
ne mas discarded chinelas for patent leath-
er poots. The children, boys and girls are
made up into quaint little miniatures of
their elders though, above mentioned
tnelr costumes are ordinarily either of the
simplest kind or conspicuous by their alb
sence.