Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1899-09-01
1T is APPALLING.
Rainy Season in the Philippines
Beyond Description.

dent With the American Forces i'm
Luz0n, Tells an Interesting Story-A
Deluge of the Entire Landscape is a
Not Unfrequent Occurrences
Amusing Side Lights. z
Sergeant Ernest G. Smith of the
18th regulars whose home is near
Wheeling has been sending some in
tereSting and well written letters to
the Intelligencer from the Philip
pines We appropriate the following
it being part of his last one that
will no doubt be read with interest:
SAN FERNANDO, Luzon, P. l., July
PA believe every one has heard OF
a 'srainy season" in the Philippines
ever since he took enough interest in
the archipelago to hunt up an atlas
and find whether or not there were
two 'l's'' in the spelling. We, too.
had heard of such period. When d
volunteer truthfully described some OF
the events which would follow in the
wake of the deluge, we slyly winked
at each other and mentally put the
innocent volunteer down as having
long since graduated from Sunday
school without being thoroughly i'm
bued with the doctrines inculcated
there.
If we could find them, we would
humbly beg the volunteers pardon
now. This morning as we were steer
ing our mess table back from FORUM
ate Judgment in bamboo clump, a
passing sChino" Indicated that the
water would rise four feet higher.
That would cover every square inch
of land surface within radius of fifty
miles, excepting the railroad at Mt.
Arayat; but no one doubted the
aChino's" word, and we promptly
hoisted the whole mess outfit into the
attic of the highest deserted house on
the street
But, seriously speaking, the down
pour is something appalling For five
days there has been a glimpse of nei-
ther sun nor stars. Unlike a heavy
rainfall elsewhere there is no cessation
to this. The latest papers from Ma
Mia state that there was fall of I 80
inches in that city during the previous
twenty-four hours, and surely San Fer
nando has not been behind the times
in this respect You often wonder,
when you first land, why the natives
build such odd houses, perched so high
in the air that ladder is often
necessary TO reach the first floor. If
you remain here while you are ready
to admit that the native knows more
about the business than you do. Into
this aerial abode the family brings a
liberal supply of rice and unmatured
pints, and while the foodgates are
open, the whole household let's bust
ness affairs take care of themselves,
and stay at home. The soldier, I'M
fortunately, can't take life in such a
restful attitude. There seems no de-
crease in Mr.. Aguinaldo's ambition to
get into the city, and the season has
but added to the rigors of outpost
duty.
DRESSES AS HE PLEASES.
One blessing has come TO the regu-
lar with the advent Of the rainy sea-
son. He can now dress as he pleases.
Except when campaigning, every one
heretofore, has been compelled to
wear s'full Khakie uniform, with
blouse tightly buttoned at every for
nation of his company. No matter
how hot the day or if you were there
simply to answer roll call, the blouse
must be buttoned, and your leggings
, carefully laced.
Y The volunteer could drill in his
pajamas, if they were best suited to
his comfort, but the poor regular must
needs appear in all he owned. But
when the long road to the outposts be-
came waist deep for over half It's
length, ind still there were no signs
of clearing weather, the formal order
came to allow each man to dress as he
chose. | believe the company drew
more real amusement from, its last trip
to the outposts than music-loving
audience would from standard light
opera. When the assembly" sound
ed there We're many vain attempts to
stand at studied attention while
the roll was called All but two of
the company were 5are-footed and
bare-legged, a blue flannel shirt, rub
Der poncho reaching almost to the
knees campaign hat and rifle forming
the most usual attire.
Manila, for it's position is much near
er the ocean than San Fernando, is
doubtless more fortunately equipped
for the annual visitation than is San
Fernando, but the only elevation in
this whole region was appropriated b.