The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-11-20
jEWELRY MADE IN MANILA
WOMEN ROTH 1RTIFICERS 1tND
 MERCHANTS,
Filipino Pupils surpass In skill Their Spanish Masters-fngenious and Prct- ty Designs.

Much has been said and written rela-
 tive to the advisability of the Philip
 pines becoming part of our country s
 domain. When considered from jew
 elry standpoint, many interesting
 things may be said pro and con regard
 ing the question. It is unquestionably
 fact that one of the most interesting
 features of Manila industrial life Is the
 wonderful skill and ingenuity of it's lap
 diaries and gem settlers, who, strange to
 say, are the women of the population,
 whose taste and workmanship have far
 surpassed the powers of men.
 4 visitor to both Spain and Morocco,
 who was interested in the production of
 jewelry must have remarked the supe-
 riorlty of the Spanish artihcer, who has
 taught all of the excellencies of his
 craft to the natives of his colonies. Tn
 the case of the Philippines, however, it
 is undeniably true that the pupils have
 improved on the teacher, and their art
 has become famous throughout the far
 east.
 The shops are small, often mere dens
 with a gloomy interior, making a
 strange setting for the beautiful work
 done within the interior Rents have
 been exorbitantly high, and under the
 Spanish system of taxation it was im-
 prudent for shopkeeper to display much stock.
 The customer in many instances who had been advised of the beautiful things made by the natives would be disappointed at the meagre assortment shown and would go away, irritated that he had been persuaded to leave his name and address.
 Later in the day, or perhaps the fol- lowing morning, he would receive an in- yitation and even be urged to repeat his visit. and, if refusal is made, he is in- veigled there if possible in one mode or another. Should he prove obdurate, the persistent, gentle, little brown woman calls on him or waits patiently on the steps of his hotel, her wares in locked box under her rebosa.
 If the second visit to the shop is made the customer is really well repaid.
 Such sparkle of color and glitter of treasure! The broiling sunshine steeps the streets, and all Manila quivers in the languor of the tropics, but the tiny shop is cool. Before the wonders now exhibited one forgets to remember the thermometer.
 Among the treasures of one of these little shops are necklaces of delicate pink coral, coral balls for the decora- ton of grandees' caps dainty statuettes of coral with the body and limbs formed of the stem and its branches; rosaries with beads like drops of blood, pendants of pure white pearls, lustrous and pear-shaped; chains of pearls, drop-shaped ear jewels, which the sell CT assures one are the offspring of tears and suffering; great yellow pearls, the favorite purchase of the Chinese mer- chant, and costly strings of pink pearls of peculiar iridescence.
 There are sets of blood red cabochon garnets, consisting of earrings, pin and finger ring and other sets of the orange red variety, that emit light in the dark like flame. Indeed, the kinds of garnet displayed are bewildering- silver fila gree set with yellow garnets, mother of pearl drinking cups, with handles thick ly covered with pale green garnets; na- ere knife handles that sparkle with the lightning of carbuncles, and small bowls VI OPoICStClt IiOtuCI Oi' PColl tlidL I glow with their red fire.
 The native saleswoman is astute noting every evidence of surprise or ad- nliration shown upon the face of the visitor who has at last been admitted to the beauties of the inner portals
 She turns nsinuatingly, and says in her rich alto voice, ''Very pretty; look you" The visitor has now do desire to do otherwise than look, and the pocket book is sure to purchase. As matter of fact, it does not seem possible that the work she is showing can be gold only gold-so fine and lacelike are the patterns. There is a chain. necklace, a chatelaine, a hatpin and a brooch, all of the deepest yellow gold, from eight cen to twenty-two karats and of exqui- site handiwork. The chain looks like a long yellow braid of haid, tied at the | clasp with true lovers knot, that it may not unravel itself. The necklace is a flexible, delicate veined stem, from which branch pendants of the daintiest | golden ferns Anything more graceful | or artistic than this work 1t would be | difficult to duplicate, except, perhaps, | In the goldsntherles of famous Ceylon. | Ire chatelaine Is composed of solid | ropes of gold (exact copies of Manila | hemp rope even to the threads), with ,Iasps designed like fishhooks. The hat pin is a miniature Malay creese, with a water lily leaf for handle, and the brooch golden alligator or young cay man. the scale work being a most in genious initiation of nature.
 The sum of one hundred and fifty eight Spanish pesetas ($30.50 gold) purchases this entire set of five pieces ess than would be asked for the neck ace alone In New York, London or Paris This woman has brought the rude gold from the country, made her ,wn alloys, drawing out the gold wire md beating it with hammer and anvil. 'ollowing step by step the most modern ,nd scientific processes of metal smith ng.
 These metal workers are as skilful with silver as with gold. Marvellous ban yIes of chased silver, set with precious tones and brooches and pendants of ,uaint design all manifest the p1ost thoughtful human labor. One can have 10 idea of how much cah be done with liver until he has seen this confusion # devices in which 1t Is used.
 Very likely the collection will contain