Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-02-25
AGUlNALD0 AT HOME.

The Renowned Filipino Leader and His
Surroundings of Oriental Magnihcence.
In letter to The illustrated Amer.
ican, I. R. D. Hallowell, Minnesota
volunteer in the Philippines, writes
very Interestingly of visit to Aguin-
aldo at bis headquarters at Malolos.
He says:
CAT either side of the door and up
the broad stone stairway we're men
holding huge spears, the heads of
which shone like silver. At the top of
the stairs great surprise awaited me.
1 was conducted down a large hall
furnished with oriental magnifcence,
and the men here were dressed in
superb uniforms. rubbed my eyes to
make sure I was not dreaming-it was
all 80 beautiful. Seated about door
were some Is or 20 people awaiting. AN
audience with Aguinaldo. I simply
sent in word: An American with a
communication Instantly a man
came out, his dress beyond description,
and, addressing me in good English,
Salu, Wdlk III, slT.
Again I rubbed my eyes, for I was
in room of enormous size crystal
chandeliers hung from the ceiling at
one side was piano, and all about were
signs of great wealth and even royalty.
MY escort was most gracious; he
was sorry to detain me, but the presi-
dent had Just returned from a three
days's trip back in the mountains he
was sleeping, and I must wait until
he awoke. He continued: ave are
showing you great honor, as you rep
resent the American nation. All others
we keep waiting outside in the hallway.
I thanked him in the name Of Uncle
Sam, and settled down for one of the
most interesting talks of life. The
The man was Aguinaldo's secretary.
He said among other things: 'We are
grateful to your country for freeing
US from Spanish rule. We do not
want to fight you. We love and re-
spect you. All we want are freedom
and protection. The man sleeping
in there is our Washington. Yours
made great nation of you. Ours will
do the same for US; but should you
hand the islands back to Spain, we
will fight to the DEATH
"The time passed all too quickly.
Another door opened and another gor-
aeous creature said: president Agui-
naldo will give audience to the Ameri-
can,' and entered what to these poor
people is the Holy of Holes. Seated
on sort of throne behind desk most
beautifully carved was Aguinaldo. He
arose as 1 approached, and within a
few feet of him l saluted as to an
American officer. He returned the
salute and handed him the coInmuni-
cation, withdrawing few feet, while
he, evidently much excited, and still
standing, had his secretary read and
translate into his own language the
contents. All this gave me time to
use nv eyes, which I did to good effect
First, the man himself. He is very
short in stature, with heavy face, and
wearing his jet black hair pompadour.
He is only % years old and has, like
all the natives, copper.colored skin,
with smooth face and tiny hands and
feet; unlike his attendants, he was
simply dressed in white linen suit.
The magnificent desk was covered with
mass of silver articles, all of superb
workmanship. The ink.stand particu-
larly was massive. The room was
hung in dark silks, over which on the
walls were superb shields, daggers and
spears all highly polished. A huge
globe stood by the side of the desk and
many books were about the room.
"After be had perused the message,
I withdrew to the former apartment
while he dictated his reply. This con-
sumed another half-hour, every minute
of which l enjoyed, this time being
entertained by his nephew, boy of IA
years. With the answer in my pock-
ct, l was escorted out of the old
convent"