Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-01-05
MANILA LETTER.
A Salem Boy describes Life in the Philip
pine Islands.

heat Of the day from IL till o'clock,
and every one lies down for nap, or
"siesta" as the Spanlards call 1t, and
In the evening, IL IL is fair weather
bearly every one goes out to the
Lunetta for a walk or drive. The
"Lunetta issituated about half way
between Malate and Old Manila, and
IL Is sort OF park. 1t is oval
In shape, aud Is about fifty yards
wide, aud a fourth of mile long.
In the centre is a band stand, and
our boys give concerts there two or
three times a week, at those times
the place Is crowded with people.
All along the entire length OF the
place, at convenient intervals, are
marble seats, where one cal sit down
and dream OF "home." IL Is
close to the beach and the lights OF
Cayite can be seen from there, very
plainly, and there is always nice,
cool refreshing sea breeze In the eve
ming 1t is the main pleasure resort
of the city, and 1 am dowu there
nearly every evening, weather per-
mltting.
The natives OF these Islands are a
small race Of people, they have a red
lsh- brown skin, and a rather Mongol
Ian cast of features; they are lazy
and shiftless class as whole, but
there are some that are we'll educated
and hold respectable positions In the
banks, custom houses, and other
places. They are nearly all more or
less musical; but they play entirely by
ear. The guitar is their main instru-
ment, but they have several different
kinds The large string harp Is used
by many, The insurgents have brass
band, and hey render some excellent
music, they can play several OF the
Amerlcau airs now. They hear our
bands play then initiate them. Their
clothing Is Of various styles and ma
terial. The females wear shirt OF
either cheap calico or gingham, and
a waist made from the hbre OF the
pineapple leaves; IL Is very thin and
resembles cheese cloth, but II Is a
much finer and durable goods, The
meuiwear trousers, made from any old
thing from bamboo TO soldiers pants,
They are generally nude from
the waist, up, but jacket
ofwhite sheetlng Is worn 10 a
great extent, especially among the
better classes. They nearly all go
barefooted and bareheaded; the
younger children or 'plckaninnes. I"
as the natives call them, don't wsar
clothes at all, but run around the pa
rental doors entirely nude. They
don't begin TO d)n clothing until
about the age OF IL. Both sexes smoke
cigarettes frouI the cradle To the
grave.
The MestiZo women are the Creoles
OF this country. They are OF native,
Spanish and French blood, aud as Il
rule, remarkably good looking aud are
very well dressed. Their skin Is a
sort Of olive hue, as near as can de-
scribe 1t. All the Spanish, natives
and mestlzoes are devout Catholics,
and they have some elegant churches.
The church OF San Ignaclo inside the
walled city, being the most beautiful
and expensive of them all, IL Is per-
feet gem OF art, and is probably the
most unique in the world. The In
terror is constructed entirely of the
natiYe timber, carved by master
hands. The floor Is mosaic OF diff
ferent colored woods. Around the
church are statutes OF Christ and the
saints; all carved from wood aud alb
solutely without flaw. The rail OF
the high altar is adorned with
wreaths OF carved wood, and the de-
licacy Of the work is something mar
velUus. Every petal VI the flowers
aud every vein in the leaves, being
faithfully copied. IL took twelve
years TO complete the church, and all
the work was done by natives, with
native material, except the carving OF
the marble pillar bases, which were
imported from Italy.
Another place OF wonder 10 the
American visitor, Is Ell Paco
Cemetery. There are two rings or
masonry, some ten feet high and ten
feet thick, In which are constructed
inches, one above the other, three
high, just large enough TO admit
cotiin, the corpse is placed inside the
niche, which IS then Theoretically
sealed with masonry, aud the head
stone or slab placed. For the use Of
this niche a rental OF S35 Is paid,
which is good for five years, at the
end OF which tlme, unless the friends
OF the deceased Wish TO renew the
lease, the niche Is opened, aud the
remains, now nothing but bones, are
removed and taken u their final
resting-place. This Is large we'll or
hollow in the wall, into which the
skeletons are promisc0uslY dumped.
The Inhabitants OF Manila c1nsu me
10000 packages OF cigarettes daily
GOLD DUST WI