Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-12
HE KNEW AGU1NALDo.
Interesting Story of a Schoolate Of the
Insurgent.

Insurgent.
(New Orleans Times Democracy
Louis NJ. Rodriguez, the young Fill
Pine who has applied for the position
of stenographer and typewriter to serve
ut the army headquarters in Manila,
concluded his civil service examina-
ton at the custom house yesterday, and
has strong hopes of securing the job.
Mr.. Rodriguez is man of education
and culture. and in appearance Is
typical member Of his race. He is
short. wiry and agile. and his features
bear marked resemblance to portraits
of Aguinaldo.
do" he remarked to n Times-Democrat
reporter who called yesterday at his
office. at No. 4S6 Common street, land
Know him and his two brothers very
well. We attended the San Juan sem
mary i'll Manila. Il is n Catholic insti-
tuition and Is designed to tit young men
Tor two professions only-thc law and
the church. We studied Latin, philos-
| ophy. pedagogy, Rcman and interna-
tional law, the doctrines OF personal
rights and theology. Ore had 10 be a
graduate OF an academy or 'iirst school
| before entering
"Agunaldo was hard student" con-
| orally turn night into day. and it was
At the college that he acquired his
pronounced ideas on Republicanism
! When he was only l6 years old he start
ed a little paper-a boys paper--called
La Republica- 1 took Il great interest
i'll the enterprise. for my father was n
newspaper man and was brought up
10 the trade. [ wrote n great deal OF
| poetry. which dare say was very poor
anyhow. La RepUblica didn't last very
long. l doubt whether there is n COPY
OF 1t now in existence.
IN his school days Aguinaldo was
| very quiet boy. but everybody liked
| him. He was good hearted and charit
able and had great idea of ones duty
| 10 the poor. He is extremely well
educated. and finished his schooling
abroad. I don't know where his two
brothers are at present. They used to
live at Cavite. One of our intimates nj
college. by the way. was DR.. Rizal. who
later on started the last war agains,
the Spanish. He was an able man and
exercised great influence on Aguin-
| aldo"
| Have the well-to-do Filipinos n good
education as n rule?" asked the visitor
Yes There is Il little F!liaino who
! sometimes comes into this office. He
was educated for the law. but is now n
| common sailor. 1t would surprise Won
10 near him talk. He can converse on
any topic in scholarly manner. and
frequently speaks Of the war not
merely of news events, but discussing
| II from philosophic standpoint He
is fair example OF the young Frilinino
OF good family They are thoroughly
educated i'm everything except English
and English literature"
Ieli me something about everyday
Iite among the Filipinos." said the re-
porter; lin what respect do their enc.
| toms differ tril rty, y1,,
| wen" replied Mr.. Rodriguez. there
are two ways of living in Manila. One
| very cheap and one is very expensive.
All except the rich live very chea nlv.
II costs the upper class about the same
as 1T does here. Fruit is tho DrIncjnoI
food of the common neonja and H.
banana plays very important mart
more important than bread does bero
l could describe over twenty-five differ
emf ways of preparing bananas. bur
.ney are commonly ground into flour
| ana made into cakes. which nro 80,
palatable. For cents n man car ~.
enough bananas -four to live on snvarn,
| uuys: The upper class use Spanish
cook!nE exclusively. and the cricns at
me fashionable cafes are about what
.ney are in New Orleans. One cannot
Scl d 5000 dinner for less than 81. rhc
zee used Is nearly all natural ice and
ic brought from the mountains sev.no
zen miles away. on buffalocs.
| ne rich Fiiipinos have elegant rcs
licences. ana everybody employs troops
VI servants man earning $40 a
month VIII employ at least four Tbs
| 'uleS regarding social intercourse ,rs
very strict. To get on calling footing
| at d mouse Is often the work OF wears
| ono must be vouched for to an cxtont
unknown even in Europe. PromIscn.
| Gus calling on young ladies is strictly
interdicted, and the usual American
t eeaftshiP-W would be regrrrfrrf- with hor-
| TOT. once. when L was a mere nov e,
| companion about my own age nccost-
| cd young girl on the street and toId
her she was very pretty. She belong
ca 10 Spanish family. and next dav
ner brother hunted up my friend. who
INSISTED that he meant the remark az
harmless compliment. My sister
Knows she is pretty said the Spaniard
Sne ooeS not desire the information
from you. There is my card rhe
neAt uay the TWO met in n room and
eAchahged shots at few PAGES Both
were Killed. My innocent part in IL was
iisioe preteNt by the Spanish author
lues 10 squeeze money out of nv
father and he paid them nearly 81 non
to prevent my arrest"
Were the Spaniards as opnressIv. 90
they have been described?" the re-
porter asked.
Yes. fully" replied Mr.. Rodriguez
MS eyes sparkling with angry recollec.
lions. They looked down on the Fill
ipihos because their dark color and new
er missed an opportunity to insult and
Illuminate them. The taxes were out
raSeous and the country was ridden nv
iuie priests The average Eilinino 4,