Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-02-15
Private Grindrod's Prophecy
Proven Correct by Re-
cent Events.
The Young Soldier Writes From
Manila One Of the Best Letters
Penned by Our Soldiers>>>
Christmas in Our New
Possessions.
MANILA, Dec. rs, 1898.
HALsEY II. WATSON, ESQ,
LeWistown, Mont.

BeWlSIOWn, MOnU.
DEAR FRIEND HALsEY: Last even
ing at mess Sergeant Barton in
formed me of your desire to hearfrom
me in a letter. Thanking youfor the
compliment, ] accept the duty with
pleasure and shall feel much gratified
ii | succeed in discharging it without
trying your patience too severely.
My literary efforts of late have been
as weak as they have been involun-
tary, and / find myself in the position
OF a certain officer of this regiment,
who has convinced us beyond ques-
ton that his skill with the sword
must be greater than it ia with the
pen.
Today IL Christmas, according to
the calendar. There is nothing about
the day, as observed in the Philip
pines, to suggest the beloved men,
cries of Yuletide in the United States;
there Is no mistletoe, no evergreen
and no hOllyhock; there are no Christ
mas trees decorated with stringed
popcorn and Illuminated with can
dies; no sleighbells, and no Santa
Claus. Instead, there is the dull las
situde of the tropics, the strong heat
OF solar rays, the presence OF a new
and distinct social life. and a COM
plete absence of all those circum-
stances of time, place and weather
which, together with its delightful
customs, make the Christmas festival
at home so dear to every American
heart.
/ do not mean to imply that Christ
mas is not considered as a holiday in
these islands, o that the people al
low it to slip by as II it meant really
nothing to them. On the contrary.
they prepare for the "Pascua' or
"Navidad," as it il called, as we our
selves do, only they employ some
what different rites. They hold serv-
ices in the different churches, they
toll the bells, and the musiciansin the
cafes play "Over the Waves and
"After the Ball" again and again.
Nor are the p%ickaninnies forgotten.
Provision is made to supply each OF
them with a Christmas gift, which,
by a strange coincidence, is called an
"aguinaldo." Many of our own
boys awaited themselves of the op-
portunity this morning to attend
services in the different churches and
cathedrals, where mass was celebrat-
ed by both Spanish and American
priests.
Aside from their unfortunate situa-
ton the boys of Company | had no
cause for complaint and had the sat.
isfaction of sitting down to as saw
DRY a repast as the human stomach
could crave, consisting of turkey, pie,
other delicious viands, and, best of
all, pudding. At the conclusion OF
the meal our genial cook, Charles Ed
wards, opened a .keg of nails from
which each man was issued a liberal
potion. AS for myself. my recollec-
tions Of the day will always he kept
alive through the fact OF having been
on guard: and 1 think, also, that
Capt. Preston will not soon forget
that he was officer of the day ON our
first Christmas in the Philippines.
1t is worth all of the discomforts,
all of the privations and all of the
risks OF war to see Manila, the me-
tropolis Of the Philippines. | shall
not attempt to escribeit, az it would
take many of these pages to do so
properly. The visitor 500 learns
that there are in reali y two cities
which have the name Of Manila, one
OF which presents a wide contrast to
the other. The English and Ameri.
can visitor distinguishes these places
by the. words new" and "old," one
signifying that portion of the city
which grew up in comparatively
obNih bihitS, wv ~ othNi nv WI
cient city, with "A high stone wall
completely surrounding it. From
this circumstance the S~paniards call
it "intramuros." Many wonderful
sights.may be seen in old Manila.
The place abounds in huge churches
and cathedrals, which constitute tile
seat.of papal supremacy in the Phil.
ippines. They are evidently Of a
great.".age. and. indeed, everything
about old Manila is suggestive OF a
hoary antiquity. The streets, which
are regularly laid out and very mar
row, were in a very filthy condition
before..tthe American garrison took
possession, as the Spaniards are
~shockingly unclean. Many of the
churches and monasteries are now
used as barracks for the Spanish
prisoners, who will remain a charge
of Uncle Sam until the Spanish gov
eminent arranges to transport them